It’s actually illegal in Massachusetts to wear a mask
Increasingly, Americans are being encouraged and required to wear face masks. What does the law say?
blogs.findlaw.com
Butting Up Against Old Anti-Mask Laws
These state and local actions are executive orders — not laws — but mask laws do exist. In fact, there are many of them. But they are not anything like coronavirus orders. In fact, they are the opposite. Many states — about 15 — have
laws that forbid you to wear masks.
These laws have various origins. Many are anti-terrorism laws aimed at the Ku Klux Klan. One of the oldest, New York's 1845 law, was more generally anti-criminal. That law made it illegal in 1845 to appear "disguised and armed" and was used, 166 years later, to charge masked Occupy Wall Street protesters.
So, if it's against the law in these states to wear masks, what's a police officer to do?
Two southern states have taken steps to guide them. In Alabama, Attorney General Steve Marshall issued a statement in April saying that state's 71-year-old anti-mask law will not be enforced against people who wear medical masks. In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order suspending that state's 70-year-old law.
But don't think that criminals are keeping an eye on these developments. There have been several incidents recently involving
armed robbers wearing medical masks.
Meanwhile, the rest of us must make do with following the law and the governmental guidance as best we can. So it may not be surprising then that face masks are the
hot fashion accessory of the moment.
If you have to wear a mask, you might as well make the most of it.