By Ken Ritter
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — A coronavirus mask mandate by the Democratic governor of Nevada is drawing protests and organized opposition from a self-described conservative Republican activist who vows to target elected officials he says threaten personal liberty.
“We’re really not trying to take a political stand,” Ian Bayne, head of the new “No Mask Nevada” political action committee, said Thursday. “We’re a diverse group of people who don’t want to wear masks and don’t want the government to tell us to use masks.”
Gov. Steve Sisolak called it “disappointing and outright dangerous to see any attempt to turn face coverings into a political issue during a public health crisis.”
“Efforts like this will only make the pandemic worse,” Sisolak said through spokeswoman Meghin De- laney. “The growing scien- tific body of research is clear. Wearing a face covering helps reduce the spread of COVID-19.”
Polls show mask use has become a partisan issue. A Pew Research Center poll published in June found more Democrats than Re- publicans said they wore masks in stores all or most of the time.
Bayne noted that a No Mask Nevada protest on Monday in rural Pahrump drew several dozen people. He said the governor’s order to wear masks was enacted without due process and denied liberty to state residents.
He said he wasn’t sur- prised by a state Occupa- tional Health and Safety
Administration report on Thursday that one in four businesses in and around Las Vegas that were visited by inspectors were not com- plying with Sisolak’s order for people to use face cover- ings in public places.
“This is Nevada. We want to live free,” Bayne said.
The governor’s order took effect June 26. On Wednes- day, OSHA said, officials visited 350 stores, bars, sa- lons, gyms and gambling establishments statewide. Southern Nevada sites had a 75% compliance rate, the agency said, and Northern Nevada businesses came in at 84%.
Bayne is a Massachusetts native, radio talk show host and 2014 GOP congressional primary candidate in Illinois who now lives in Las Vegas. He recently registered No Masks Nevada PAC with the Nevada secretary of state.
Pat says
Bayne, you may want to live free but I want to live! Please help me do that by wearing a mask. PLEASE!!!!!!!
Ed White says
I don’t want the government telling me I need to wear pants in public or wear a seat belt, or pay taxes….. Why don’t these anti-mask pundits take stands on those things that the government also mandates?
This is not about the government’s control, this is about doing the scientifically proven thing that will help keep others healthy. Stop being selfish. Stop trying to kill grandma. Wear your mask.
Greg Ford says
Look at this: