by Kerry Dougherty
On Saturday evening at about 6:30 three people were shot at Norfolk’s once-upscale MacArthur Center.
One man, 33-year-old Roosevelt A. McKinney, was killed. Two others were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds.
The Norfolk police would like your help in identifying the suspected shooter. They’ve even provided security cam stills:
Helpful, no?
Anyone recognize the suspect? You know, the guy wearing what appears to be a ski mask?
Although you wouldn’t know it from visiting your local supermarket, bank or mall these days, Virginia actually has a law on the books that bans masks in public for anyone over the age of 16.
§ 18.2-422. Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places; exceptions.
It shall be unlawful for any person over 16 years of age to, with the intent to conceal his identity, wear any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer.
As best I can tell, when it was passed, the law was aimed primarily at members of the KKK who were fond of marauding in hoods.
During the pandemic the law was effectively suspended. Now that the COVID emergency orders have been lifted, it’s time law enforcement started once again enforcing the mask ban.
No, I’m not talking about the people who continue to wear surgical masks. But surely the police can stop anyone wearing a SKI MASK indoors in April.
In fact, the mere presence of someone in such get-up at a mall ought to serve as probable cause for a pat down.
Let’s hope that eventually even those paralyzed by fear of COVID will stop wearing masks. Cloth masks are virtually useless, anyway.
It’s worth noting that the Virginia Department of Health website on Monday reported just four cases of COVID in the city of Norfolk.
Four. In a city of 239,125.
You have a better chance of catching gonorrhea in Norfolk than COVID at this point.
But go ahead, keep wearing your masks if it makes you feel safe. But keep in mind that facial coverings are a gift to the city’s hairballs and make us all less safe.
This column has been republished with permission from Kerry: Unemployed & Unedited.
