On May 4, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced the City’s reopening dictum that no doubt is a slippery slope to tyranny akin to the very tactics employed by communist regimes around the world leading to oppression and licensing local government to single out non-conforming citizens. On the surface, given the current COVID-19 crisis, the Order may seem deceptively reasonable, but intentional or unintentional conflicts in the order possibly open the door to extreme and dangerous measures that could result in persecution of business owners and Christ followers. Why? Enforcement power of police and the public health department, and no sunset provision as to when these jack-boot regulations end.
Here are highlights of some of the details (underlines added by The Daily Jot): Section 1: Stay At Home: …All individuals shall exercise social distancing requirements at all times…Section II… In the interest of public health and to avoid a Covid-19 outbreak in the community, those business operations should consider maintaining a record of customers on the premises…Any information collected under this subsection by the business operation or the Department of Public Health shall remain confidential to the extent allowed by law and be utilized only for public health purposes or to address public health concerns…Religious gatherings, including, but not limited to, weddings, funerals, memorial services, and wakes, of 10 persons inside…and 50 people outside may resume, provided social distancing is maintained…
…[Religious] event organizers should consider maintaining a record of attendees where appropriate. Attendees are not required, however, to provide their names or contact information at any religious gathering. In the event of a Covid-19 outbreak connected to a religious gathering, a religious gathering may contact those potentially exposed and, subject to confidentiality, provide the names and other relevant information voluntarily provided at the gathering to the Department of Public Health. Any information collected under this subsection by the religious gathering or the Department of Public Health shall remain confidential to the extent allowed by law and be utilized only for public health purposes or to address public health concerns. (NOTICE ALL CHURCHES HAVE THE NAMES OF THEIR ATTENDEES ANYWAY, AND THAT THE DEPT. OF PUBLIC HEALTH CAN COLLECT SUCH INFORMATION]
Section 5. Violation of any provision of this Order constitutes an imminent threat, creates an immediate menace to public health, and shall be considered a violation of Section 50-155 of the City’s Code of Ordinances. All remedies prescribed by the provisions of this order shall be cumulative, and the use of one or more remedies by the city shall not bar the use of any other remedy for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Order. IN OTHER WORDS, BUSINESSES AND CHURCHES VOLUNTARY COLLECTION OF NAMES IS ACTUALLY MANDATORY WHEN IT COMES TO ENFORCING REMEDIES AGAINST AN IMMINENT THREAT OR IMMEDIATE MENACE. Section 6 allows the City and/or Police to enter “all property” to enforce the provision and shut down the operation upon receipt of a complaint.
KCTV News reported that businesses and religious organizations can reopen “so long as” names and contact information is kept and that if someone wants to report noncompliance of these guidelines, they “should call the city 311 line.” An FAQ released by the Mayor’s Office says contact information must be kept for 30 days minimum, but did not specify a maximum time or a method of disposal. This opens the door for unlimited abuse. ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY ISSUING SUCH ORDERS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SUNSET PROVISIONS AND METHODS FOR DISPOSING OF THE NAMES. This is dangerous for all citizens. It is the use of a crisis to make precedent and institute long-term forms of tyranny. As Christ said in Matthew 24:4, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Take a stand.
