Local Libertarians Support Voluntary Wearing of Masks Worn in Public, Oppose Mandatory Ordinance Proposal

Boynton Beach, Fla - June 21, 2020 - The Libertarian Party of Palm Beach County (LP Palm Beach) stands opposed to the Palm Beach County instituting mandatory facial covering being worn in public in favor of voluntary cooperation Palm Beach County citizens. The issue will be presented at the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday (Item 3.A.). And while LP Palm Beach finds county commissioners’ heart in the right place, public health emergencies do not give local government unlimited power. The county government should provide unadulterated information to the public and respect its citizens and businesses to decide for themselves in how best to act. 

LP Palm Beach finds the proposed ordinance contrary to state statute and an obvious violation of the U.S. Constitution as supported under Jacobson v. Massachusetts. In Jacobson, the Court said governments can temporarily impose certain restrictions on individuals; however, also stated, "real liberty for all could not exist under the operation of a principle which recognizes the right of each individual person to use his own, whether in respect of his person or his property, regardless of the injury that may be done to others." If county commissioners implement this proposed ordinance, it opens the county government to unnecessary lawsuits, expending more taxpayer dollars when expenses for the county are already rising and tax income for the coming year is unknown.

LP Palm Beach implores the Board of Commissioners to withdraw this agenda item or if it comes up for a vote, then to vote against it. A vote for it would violate a commissioner’s Oath of Office and would be cause for their removal from public office. Upon taking office, commissioners promise to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution while doing the same for Florida Statutes - a "YES" vote to force all in Palm Beach County to wear a facial covering in public would violate both.