PHOENIX – As Arizona counties and cities move to mandate masks, lawmakers and law enforcement officials are raising questions about the necessity and enforceability of such mandates.
On Thursday, both Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot and Representative Bob Thorpe issued statements of concern regarding new government-issued mandates stemming from a rise in coronavirus cases in Arizona.
According to Thorpe, he questions the need for mandates based on “science.”
“Actual statewide hospitalization numbers: only 24 percent of the Arizona hospital beds currently in use are being used by COVID-19 patients,” noted Thorpe in a press release. “For example, currently Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) has only 15 COVID-19 patients within the hospital, and there is no immediate concern at this time with limited bed capacity. Including elective procedures, FMC is currently at about 78 percent capacity. If FMC sees a substantial spike in COVID-19 patients, it will reduce or stop elective procedures in order to create additional bed capacity.”
“On March 31st, World Health Organization officials recommended that people NOT wear face masks, unless they are sick with COVID-19 or caring for someone who is sick. Governor Ducey has previously stated that he would not mandate the wearing of masks, especially when you consider that the vast majority of Arizona citizens do not have COVID-19,” argued Thorpe. “I strongly disagree with Ducey’s latest reversal, now allowing Liberal Mayors, like here in Flagstaff, to mandate the wearing of masks.”
“The Executive Branches of our government, including our governor and mayors, do not have the constitutional legislative authority to make laws, such as mandating what citizens can be forced to wear,” stated Thorpe. “Ironically, with the police-defunding efforts of liberals, like those on the Flagstaff City Council, who exactly will enforce the mask-wearing mandate? Prior to ticketing or arresting any of us for not wearing a mask, citizens must demand to know exactly which ‘enacted’ Arizona laws that they are violating.”
For his part, Wilmot “recognized the need to mitigate the spread of COVID-19” and importance of facemasks, but said his office lacks the resources to enforce the edict.
“Every year since I took office, I have petitioned the Board of Supervisors for additional Deputies to maintain public safety in Yuma County,” explained Wilmot. “As our County grows, so too should the ability of my Office to meet the growing demand for law enforcement services. Unfortunately, those repeated requests for additional manpower have been denied in all but the absolute rarest of circumstances.”
“Therefore, I will be unable to conduct any enforcement of this proclamation and will not divert manpower from emergency services to conduct face covering enforcement,” concluded Wilmot.
Wilmot asked Yuma County residents to voluntarily comply with “proven measures recommended by our local Health Department experts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and work together to beat this pandemic.”