Actions appropriate in public crisis

David Hammer of Palatine on June 23 says basically that our government is overstepping itself by placing restrictions on movement and assembly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says the right to assembly "cannot be repealed by any legislature." That is not true. Lower courts have ruled that restrictions like what we are using now ARE legal because they are designed as a temporary measure to meet expedient circumstances for the good of the public. The SCOTUS has not declared this illegal or unconstitutional.

Governments have a duty to protect their citizens even if this means curtailing freedoms we are used to under normal circumstances. Let me remind you these are extraordinary times not just in the U.S. but globally too where such actions to shelter in place are virtually in every country to one degree or another.

He goes on to say that viruses have been around forever as if this in just another one. No it is not. Very few people were exposed to this, which is why it can cause such devastating effects and can spread so easily. Even the H1N1 was nowhere near this deadly as it was derived from influenza strains which some had been exposed to and have antibodies for. I took care of H1N1 patients as an ICU RN in a Chicago university-based teaching hospital. COVID-19 is in a league all its own. Again this is a pandemic.

Restrictions made during this unique time in our history are for the overall good of public health and are lawful and necessary. I wish you could really see what going on in hospitals throughout the country as health care workers fight and die, yes die to stem this crisis. When it's all over maybe you can assemble wherever and toast the return of your freedoms.

Lawrence Kopp

Schaumburg