# Most blatant COVID-19 related government overreach in the US so far **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 10, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519 "2020-04-10T18:02:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/81 "2020-04-16T18:25:15Z")
I need a fucking hair cut! I live in a county that is up to a whopping 6 confirmed positives for covid-19, none have died or even spent time in the hospital. I will park outside and give you my phone number. Send me a text when my turn comes. I am not going to get sick because the barber touched my hair. It feels to me like the Ms Grundys of the world finally have the power to regulate our behavior and are abusing it. I go to work 40 hours a week still. I go to the mini mart, the grocery store, Home Depot, auto parts store, fishing supply store. But I can’t go get a fucking hair cut. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/82 "2020-04-16T21:12:20Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > I need a fucking hair cut! I live in a county that is up to a whopping 6 confirmed positives for covid-19, none have died or even spent time in the hospital. I will park outside and give you my phone number. Send me a text when my turn comes. I am not going to get sick because the barber touched my hair. > > It feels to me like the Ms Grundys of the world finally have the power to regulate our behavior and are abusing it. I go to work 40 hours a week still. I go to the mini mart, the grocery store, Home Depot, auto parts store, fishing supply store. But I can’t go get a fucking hair cut. I went to get a haircut the day before my state shut-down. The barber told me 4 days prior (back when statewide shutdown wasn’t even on the table yet) a man came into the place to get a haircut but obviously had a severe fever and was coughing and sneezing everywhere so they had to kick him out and clean everything. I can see how barbershops can be a huge vector ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Turk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dan\_Turk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Turk)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/83 "2020-04-17T00:33:30Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > [side-track] > 😕 What does a tornado have to do, to be called “violent”? > [/side-track] Listen to rap music. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/84 "2020-04-17T00:52:55Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > I need a fucking hair cut! I live in a county that is up to a whopping 6 confirmed positives for covid-19, none have died or even spent time in the hospital. I will park outside and give you my phone number. Send me a text when my turn comes. I am not going to get sick because the barber touched my hair. > > It feels to me like the Ms Grundys of the world finally have the power to regulate our behavior and are abusing it. I go to work 40 hours a week still. I go to the mini mart, the grocery store, Home Depot, auto parts store, fishing supply store. But I can’t go get a fucking hair cut. Such a switch. You can now go into a pot store and get all the weed you want but have to meet your barber in a dark ally and him him cash. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/85 "2020-04-17T00:56:54Z")
A father was arrested for playing catch with his daughter at the park: [LINK](https://alice1059.radio.com/blogs/bj-jamie/bj-and-jamie-father-arrested-for-playing-catch-at-park) Later police apologized and said we are sorry we got caught (well thats mine, they said it was pver reach but I think they really did it because it made it on the news.). [LINK](https://abcnews.go.com/US/police-officer-arrested-park-throwing-ball-daughter-due/story?id=70032966) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/86 "2020-04-17T01:16:03Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > A father was arrested for playing catch with his daughter at the park: [LINK](https://alice1059.radio.com/blogs/bj-jamie/bj-and-jamie-father-arrested-for-playing-catch-at-park) > > Later police apologized and said we are sorry we got caught (well thats mine, they said it was pver reach but I think they really did it because it made it on the news.). [LINK](https://abcnews.go.com/US/police-officer-arrested-park-throwing-ball-daughter-due/story?id=70032966) How about a link to [an actual story with details.?](https://abcnews.go.com/US/police-officer-arrested-park-throwing-ball-daughter-due/story?id=70032966) > [@](#): > > Police arrived soon after, Mooney said, telling him and others in the area to leave because\*\* the park was closed.\*\* > > Mooney said he told officers that he was familiar with the posted rules and believed he and his family were in compliance and practicing proper social distancing. He said he refused to provide his identification when officers asked for it because he had not broken any law. So he was violating an order and trespassing. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/87 "2020-04-17T02:39:01Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > For a 50 mile trip? When this is over, I want to go on a road trip with you. They seem a hell of a lot more fun than mine. 🙂 That’s ~50 miles each way, not counting side trips to the Lick Observatory or Winchester Mystery House. 50 is the mountain-road mileage of our Costco runs. Along the way are livestock, roadhouses, paintball shooting ranges, vineyards and wineries, an eccentric castle (for sale) with carnival and metallic zoo [(video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShdnRdNOMkc), Daffodil Hill, and Indian casinos. Fun for all. But we try to avoid excitement. Old Chinese curse: _May you live in exciting times._ Back to overreach. We went joyriding today. Nobody stopped us. I guess it’s underreach. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/88 "2020-04-17T05:37:06Z")
> [@Kovitlac](#): > > PETCO is open and purchasing anything from them isn’t essential (you can get dog and cat food at any grocery store. Hell, Walmart and Hy Vee have bird seed and such as well). > > Many clothing stores are open with pick up options or limited customers allowed inside. > \* > As long as a place doesn’t break any state or city rules regarding the number of people congregating in one place\*, it should be allowed to conduct its business. Just because you don’t like guns doesn’t mean gun stores need to be singled out or that this is your opportunity to restrict people from purchasing them, regardless of what their reasoning is. I don’t see you whining about any other business being open. “Whining” huh, well haha haha… In PA it’s not hunting season, and firing ranges are closed to the public. So, other than creating mayhem, why would you need a gun? And with these Red Staters threatening trouble against the current guidelines, even more the reason to close gun shops. But like typical Republicans, gun rights activist place their supposed “Constee-tushinal” rights over lives. Oh and for the record my cat is more important than your gun. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/89 "2020-04-17T05:39:12Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > This is why we can’t have nice things! 😉 Guns are fun!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/90 "2020-04-17T07:38:27Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > In Michigan, a ban on buying seeds. > > [https://thepostmillennial.com/michigan-cracks-down-on-seed-purchases-and-tiny-gatherings](https://thepostmillennial.com/michigan-cracks-down-on-seed-purchases-and-tiny-gatherings) > > Sounds very strange, considering that letting people grow “victory gardens” would help them avoid contact with people at supermarkets, by growing their own food. By the time they can harvest anything, I doubt there will still be lockdowns as we’re experiencing them right now. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/91 "2020-04-17T10:52:46Z")
> [@The\_Vorlon](#): > > The RI governor has gone into full goosestep mode. > > The MI governor has taken leave of common sense also. > > Charlie Parker, er, Baker, in MA somehow thinks the second amendment, both federal and state, is optional. The only Nazis I’ve seen out are those fascists blocking hospital access in Michigan. And unless you have nothing to eat and have to go shoot an animal to put in the pot, you have absolutely no fucking reason to have a gun except in your own fevered testosterone-poisoned imagination. Does it provide food, clothing, shelter, medicine? No. It’s just for making holes in people. Is that an essential need for you? Murder? God, Americans make me sick. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/92 "2020-04-17T11:54:04Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > In PA it’s not hunting season, and firing ranges are closed to the public. So, other than creating mayhem, why would you need a gun? Vermin control. When I’m out on the farm that’s why most people I know even have firearms. Here in and around DC, that’s less of an issue. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/93 "2020-04-17T11:57:56Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Vermin control. > > When I’m out on the farm that’s why most people I know even have firearms. > > Here in and around DC, that’s less of an issue. Wouldn’t they already have a gun? Or several? ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/94 "2020-04-17T12:52:12Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Wouldn’t they already have a gun? Or several? Dunno; we don’t. Probably should. It’s not like pests are necessarily a static problem. New and exciting problems come and go. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/95 "2020-04-17T14:36:42Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Vermin control. > > When I’m out on the farm that’s why most people I know even have firearms. > > Here in and around DC, that’s less of an issue. Yes, most farmers will have a gun to shoot a dying animal, or dogs chasing livestock, or crows in the cornfield. But they already have them if they use them at all. The only reason to get all enraged over closing gunshops is \*\*\*OUR SECOND AMENDMENTS RIGHTS!!! * * * Which is to say, only that part of the US which is violentcrazystupid is disturbed by such an edict. Of course that’s at least a quarter. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/96 "2020-04-17T14:49:29Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > But they already have them if they use them at all. Apparently it’s difficult to read just two more posts: > [@Ruken](#): > > Dunno; we don’t. Probably should. It’s not like pests are necessarily a static problem. New and exciting problems come and go. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/97 "2020-04-17T15:16:27Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > And with these Red Staters threatening trouble against the current guidelines, even more the reason to close gun shops. But like typical Republicans, gun rights activist place their supposed “Constee-tushinal” rights over lives. > > Oh and for the record my cat is more important than your gun. **Moderator Note** Keep political potshots out of this forum. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. Colibri Quarantine Zone Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/98 "2020-04-17T15:17:43Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Yes, most farmers will have a gun to shoot a dying animal, or dogs chasing livestock, or crows in the cornfield. But they already have them if they use them at all. The only reason to get all enraged over closing gunshops is \*\*\*OUR SECOND AMENDMENTS RIGHTS!!! > > * * * > > Which is to say, only that part of the US which is violentcrazystupid is disturbed by such an edict. Of course that’s at least a quarter. **Moderator Note.** Ditto for this post. Knock it off. Colibri Quarantine Zone Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/99 "2020-04-17T15:20:41Z")
Since what is overreach depends on interpretation, let’s move this to Politics and Elections. Colibri Quarantine Zone Moderator NOTE: My previous instructions were based on QZ rules. With the move, P&E rules apply. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519/100 "2020-04-17T17:51:45Z")
Not necessarily an overreach, but when I am near the Maryland/WV border, I pop over into Maryland to buy liquor because Maryland has far cheaper liquor prices. My favorite stop is just over the bridge from Harper’s Ferry (through about a 3/4 mile snip of VA) into Washington County, MD. Two weeks ago there was a sign on the door stating that no masks could be worn in the store because state law required them to verify the age of all purchasers and even with ID they could not do that with part of the face covered. Today there was a different sign mandating that masks be worn pursuant to Gov. Hogan’s order requiring face masks in all public stores still open. (Although it noted that the policy was not effective until tomorrow 4/18). So two weeks ago, during a pandemic, masks were forbidden in liquor stores to verify age. Today, during a pandemic, masks are required. At no time was choice allowed and I guess 14 year olds can get away with buying liquor now due to the threat of the pandemic, but two weeks ago it was better to let disease spread than allow 14 years old to buy liquor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-blatant-covid-19-related-government-overreach-in-the-us-so-far/851519.md?page=6)