Monday, August 09, 2021

NRA digital director cancels workout at Bethesda gym over mask mandate


The National Rifle Association's digital director arrived at his Bethesda gym for a workout yesterday afternoon, but scrapped those plans after being ordered to mask-up under Montgomery County's new indoor mask mandate. Billy McLaughlin called the mandate "baseless & incredibly stupid" moments later on Twitter, noting that he is fully vaccinated. "I refuse to do cardio while wearing a mask," he wrote.

"Elections have consequences," McLaughlin tweeted minutes later. "Vote these clowns out. It’s not the gym’s fault, they need to follow the law or they get shut down by health department." He did not identify the gym, but said it was next to a restaurant where diners were consuming "greasy burgers & milkshakes" without masks. Indoor diners are only required to wear masks when not eating or drinking, under the County mandate.

 The Montgomery County Council passed the indoor mask mandate last Thursday, after County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles declared the jurisdiction an "area of substantial transmission of COVID-19." It took effect Saturday morning. 

Indoor mask mandates are returning in some jurisdictions, as a result of rising case counts blamed on the delta variant of the virus. Breakthrough delta-variant infections have been increasingly reported among those who are fully vaccinated. Health officials continue to tout the slim chance of hospitalization or death for those who have taken the vaccines and contract the virus.

"Even though we have a high rate of vaccination in our community, we now know that the Delta variant is very easy to spread," Dr. Gayles said in a statement. "To protect those who are not eligible to be vaccinated, such as children under the age of 12, we need to take every measure we can to slow down the spread of the virus. Masks are an important first line of defense to keep community transmission low.”

12 comments:

Cinco de Mayo said...

Isn't the NRA bankrupt? I'm giving their digital director a digital salute.

Anonymous said...

This dude sounds like a bit of a snowflake. Also, isn’t there an exception to the mandate when your exercising? I workout down the street at at another gym and they have signs up stating that fact. When people hit the cardio machines some wear masks and some don’t. I just hope this dude is vaxx’d.

Anonymous said...

There's an exception when actively working out, depending on how you interpret the regulation (it's a little unclear), but if the business wants to set a rule it must remain on, they can do so.

Responsible NRA members always check the gun laws in any state or county they visit. Surely he'd also check the mask laws as well?

Matt Bryant said...

Im wracking my brain, not sure any of the gyms in Bethesda are located "next door" to a burger place. The OP is being overly dramatic, and could actually be making the case for limitations on dining. Why is it all or nothing when it comes to masks for some people?

Anonymous said...

Funny that someone who doesn't feel safe unless he's concealed-carrying can't be bothered to wear a small piece of fabric on his face to protect others as well as himself.

Anonymous said...

There is a Washington Sports Club at Georgetown square in same complex and NYAJ, Chipolte, Slice Pizza, and Subway. Perhaps there.

Anonymous said...

@6:55 AM: Spoken like someone who has never concealed-carry. I feel more safe concealed-carrying, and those who are with me at the time and who know that I'm carrying feel more safe when I do as well. Newsflash: The whole point of concealed-carry is so that snowflakes like you don't know I'm carrying, and I like it that way. Personally, I think open-carry is stupid. Maybe we can agree on that.

Anonymous said...

Obama and Democrats can dance and sweat over each other without masks

This is not about masks
This is about control by the ruling elite over the peasants

Wake up people!

Anonymous said...

Everyone should be alarmed at the encroachmentonpersonalfreedom
70% blacks not vaccinated inNYC and they will now no longer be able to work out or go to restaurants

Reinstatement of Jimcrowe laws

Anonymous said...

Comment 1 You would think Paul revere and Thomas Jefferson are snowflakes

If commentators like this were alive in 1776 we’d all have British accents

No understanding of personal freedom nor is constitution

Cinco de Mayo said...

Like many school projects, only half are doing the work.

We'd still be fighting polio if the anti-vax crowd had their way.

Don Irvine said...

My grim allows us to go maskless when working out. Switch gyms.