No, Birmingham doesn’t need its own mask rules and no one else does either

America’s reliance on the mask is slowly going away.

Did it work?

Not really.

Finally, an honest comparison from the mainstream press.

The virus spread in every state. That's why we focused on hospital capacity to take care of those who needed elevated levels of care.https://t.co/xPqmABg7hp

— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) March 15, 2021

So now, it looks like we’re near the end of this.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has decided in her infinite wisdom that we can end our mask-wearing on April 9. This has been met with glee and acceptance by the citizens of the state.

So why are some municipalities deciding that they might continue their mask orders?

The City of Birmingham is going to have a vote on April 6 about extending their mask order, and, according to City Council President William Parker, it will probably pass.

Based on the reporting, the reasoning for this doesn’t seem all too clear.

If you look at Alabama’s numbers, it is clear that the health orders had no discernible impact. I don’t blame Ivey for these orders. Her administration was trying everything to stop the spread of the virus.

But Birmingham is not the only municipality considering this.

As expected, members of the media are asking elected officials what they’re going to do on April 9, implying letting the order expire is a mistake. Most of them are saying they don’t know yet, but we all know they actually know and they all know exactly what their citizens want as well.

Alabamians as a whole did what they were supposed to do. They socially distanced, they stayed at home, they close their businesses, they lost their jobs, they avoided their families, they changed their lives, and now we are getting vaccinated.

The naysayers in the media and the nobodies on social media will tell you that Alabama didn’t take this seriously and that no one was wearing masks. We all know that is a lie.

Any politician at any level that decides to extend a mask order on their citizens after Ivey’s order expires deserves all the anger that is going to be coming their way.

It is time to let Alabamians finally breathe free beginning April 9.

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 7-11 AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.