State Senator Trent Garner, who sponsored legislation banning mask mandates in the state told a crowd in Sheridan Sunday that wearing a mask is a personal choice and not one that should be legislated by a governing body.
Garner, a Republican from El Dorado, was the featured speaker at what was called a “My Child, My Choice” rally.
The event came one day before the Sheridan School Board was to meet and discuss a mask mandate.
Last month, the board, which had initially ordered a mandate, backed off and made the wearing of a mask in district schools optional. That action followed a three-hour meeting with multiple speakers on both sides of the issue.
After the ban was enacted, Governor Asa Hutchinson called the legislature back into session to try and overturn the ban but that failed. Hutchinson has said he regrets signing the ban, particularly since cases have increased because of the Delta Variant.
Garner said the ban took the power away from the government and gave it to the people, the power to decide what is best for their child. He also encouraged the crowd to go to the school board meeting and “let your voices be heard.”
