Constitutional right... show me where it says that.

As a healthcare professional it makes my head spin every time I read or hear of people not wearing masks because mask-wearing apparently violates their constitutional right. Wait, what?

According to the Preamble to the Constitution: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America". Where does it say you don't have to comply in protecting the health and welfare of other Americans? I read the entire constitution this weekend, something that I haven't done in over 20 years. Nowhere in there does it say citizens can refuse to promote the general welfare, or not comply with public health practices.

I interpret, as well as legal scholars and countless millions of others, the statement "promote the general Welfare" to mean ALL Americans. To PROMOTE the general WELFARE of ALL of US. Not just those who don't want to wear a mask. As I have been reflecting on this over the past several weeks, I found an article the other day that helped put into words what I have been contemplating.

I have to say that I struggle with those who don't want to wear masks. "Promoting general welfare" is ALL of our responsibility. Not just those who are comfortable wearing masks. The real interpretation here, as the article infers, is selfishness. So am I to believe that for non-mask wearers who cite their constitutional rights, that your right to live supersedes my right to live? After all, the reason to wear a mask right now is to slow the spread of a virus that may negatively impact me or whereas I may contract it and spread it to others who may suffer from the impact of the virus. So knowing that you are saying that you don't care about "promoting the general welfare" but only care about whether the literal language of the Constitution is infringed by mask-wearing. Spoiler alert: the constitution doesn't speak directly to mask-wearing.

Yes, there have been inexcusable mixed messages, poor role modeling, lack of leadership and much confusion around mask-wearing, however believe the scientists and health care professionals who have nothing to gain by urging people to wear masks, other than "promoting the general welfare".

I don't know about you, but as this drags on I grow more impatient with those who are prolonging this by not wearing a mask themselves. I ask that the science and healthcare community continue to let your voice be heard, whether through blogging, podcasts, your social media accounts, churches, or other means to strongly encourage people to wear their damn masks! Email your professional association to continue to advocate, write, and speak up about this as well. Our founding fathers are scratching their heads right now. Seriously let's move past this.

https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/United_States_of_America_1992