The Arizona House Government and Elections Committee advanced a bill that will prohibit any public or charter school mask mandate for children under 18 without parental consent.
The legislation, sponsored by State Representative Joseph Chaplik (R-Scottsdale), moved out of the committee on a partisan vote, with all Democrats opposing the measure.
Furthermore, the law would also apply to any governmental entity that seeks to impose the mandate on minors.
“I believe parents should make decisions for their children, not the government,” said Chaplik in a press release. “The states of Florida and Virginia, with bipartisan support, have passed this similar policy. I will continue to stand for freedom in Arizona for our constituents.”
Furthermore, the Arizona lawmakers also pointed out potential hypocrisy among the Democrats who voted against the bill:
“Let me point out that of the 6 democrats in committee all voting NO, only 2 were wearing masks. Do as I say and not as I do seems to be the tyranny that the dems lead by. The bullying of minors must stop,” he added in a tweet.
Let me point out that of the 6 democrats in committee all voting NO, only 2 were wearing masks. Do as I say and not as I do seems to be the tyranny that the dems lead by. The bullying of minors mush stop. #AZleg #UnmaskOurKids https://t.co/0VDdGLkJNy
— Joseph Chaplik 🇺🇸 (@JosephChaplik) February 10, 2022
The original legislation would have applied to private businesses throughout the state. However, other Republicans raised concerns over the additional restriction on private entities. Ultimately, the lawmakers amended the bill to strike the business requirement before advancing the provision.
Throughout the country, state officials, both Democrats and Republicans, are moving to lift the restrictions on kids. For example, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy lifted the state’s mandate for school masking, saying we “have to learn how to live with COVID.”
A recent poll from Monmouth University showed that 70 percent of Americans agreed with the statement “it’s time we accept that Covid is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network.  Email tips to [email protected].
