In the land of the free, we find ourselves facing a perplexing and troubling trend: the rise of mask bans across America. These bans, ostensibly aimed at public safety, represent a dangerous overreach that threatens the very freedoms we hold dear.

America has long prided itself on being a bastion of individual liberty, where the government’s role in dictating personal choices is limited. Yet, with alarming bipartisan support, we’re witnessing an unprecedented push to criminalize a simple act of personal health protection and expression.

Let’s be clear: Mask bans are not just misguided; they’re fundamentally un-American.

These bans infringe on our bodily autonomy. In a country that fiercely debates government intervention in health care, how can we justify laws dictating what we can or cannot wear for our own protection? Despite a flawed analysis to the contrary, high-quality masks work for those who choose to deploy them.

And yet there are 21 states and numerous municipalities with laws against masks or “disguises” on the books.

Proponents of these bans often cite crime prevention or the need to “move on” from the pandemic. But these arguments crumble under scrutiny. If the concern is truly about disguises during criminal acts, why not simply increase penalties for crimes committed while masked? As for the pandemic, it’s not over simply because we wish it to be. Many vulnerable individuals still rely on masks for protection.

The vague and broad nature of many of these bans is particularly concerning. They open the door to selective enforcement and potential abuse by law enforcement. Will we next ban sunglasses or religious head coverings? The slippery slope is real and dangerous.

Most alarmingly, these bans embolden those who would harass and endanger vulnerable members of our society. Consider the chilling incident reported by the Washington Post, where a cancer patient in North Carolina was verbally abused and physically threatened for wearing a mask to protect her compromised immune system. The assailant, emboldened by recent anti-mask legislation, “called her a ‘f—ing liberal’ and insisted masks were now illegal. He later coughed on her and said he hoped the cancer would kill her.”

This cruel episode lays bare the human cost of these misguided laws.

We must also confront an uncomfortable truth: the rhetoric surrounding mask bans bears disturbing similarities to fascist tactics. It seeks to create an “other” to be scorned, rejects scientific expertise, sows division among citizens, and uses state power to control personal behavior. This is not the America we should aspire to be.

Anyone regardless of a political party, who would take a personal and public health tool away from those who choose to deploy it here in the land of the free should know they are marching in step with a fascist agenda. Recall that it’s less about banning the actual mask than it is about forcing an ideology – that Covid must be all good now for everyone. That scientists and intellectuals and vulnerable and cautious and clear-eyed people present an uncomfortable reality, so let’s turn on them.

As we navigate the ongoing challenges of public health and personal freedom, we must recommit to the principles that truly make America great: diversity, compassion, and the right to make our own informed choices. Mask bans may seem like a minor issue to some, but they represent a significant step away from these core values.

In the face of this threat to our liberties, we must take action:

1. Speak out against mask bans in our communities.
2. Support organizations fighting for civil liberties.
3. Show compassion for those who choose to wear masks.
4. Encourage nuanced, science-based public health policies.

Remember, true freedom means respecting the choices of others, even when we disagree. In the words of a New Jersey editorial board, mask bans are both “dumb and dangerous.” They represent a simplistic solution to complex issues, threatening civil liberties in the process.

Ryan McCormick is a family physician and writes Examined, a medical publication on Substack.