The question is: Do we have a right to be free of any bacteria and/or viruses spread by others? No. We do not have the right to be free of all microbes, bacteria or virus – from anywhere or anyone.

This is the absurdity of mask mandates. Each of us, in the pursuit of life and happiness, should continue the right to go about our lives – without mask mandates. Even though, in doing so, we risk transmitting thousands of bacteria and viruses – COVID-19 or otherwise – to other people.

Just as I do not have the right to stop you from driving because I may be hit, we do not that the right to restrict human breathing because someone may transmit microbes. No rights are violated by other human beings breathing air in public. Period!

We can try to flatten the curve, slow hospital overload, shut our lives down, but nothing – masks, mandates or vaccines – will ever stop microbes from coming. Pre-COVID-19, during COVID-19 or post-COVID-19. We all live at our own risk.

If folks want to wear a mask, wear them. But we cannot mandate all human beings to wear them. It is the fear-mongering and entitlement that have many people thinking we suddenly have the right to regulate the air breathed by others. We simply do not.

Rebecca YorkDurango