Let’s face it — meetings can be tedious. Anything that can introduce a measure of entertainment or levity is generally welcome. Consider the most tedious meeting that you have attended in the past month. Wouldn’t it have been a bit more enjoyable if someone showed up dressed as a Power Ranger?
If you work in North Carolina, you will have to satisfy yourself by simply imagining that scenario. State law prohibits anyone from attending a meeting while wearing a costume or mask. Specifically, the statute says:
Holding meetings or demonstrations while wearing masks, hoods, etc.
§ 14-12.10
No person or persons at least 16 years of age shall while wearing a mask, hood or device whereby the person, face or voice is disguised so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, hold any manner of meeting, or make any demonstration upon the private property of another unless such person or persons shall first obtain from the owner or occupier of the property his or her written permission to do so, which said written permission shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which said property is located before the beginning of such meeting or demonstration.
The law was written in response to the rise of the Klu Klux Klan and was supposed to stop acts of violence and plotting to do violence under the cloak of secrecy. Without that bit of context, however, it seems as if North Carolina was attempting its own version of the Sokovia Accords and was trying to regulate meetings of superheroes.
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I laughed at first, but it’s sobering to think we need a law like this so that people who have nefarious intentions can’t hide. But it also means Fred may hesitate to speak an unpopular opinion if he knew Sarah saw his face and would egg his house later.
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It appears that the law came about in response to the Klu Klux Klan and was supposed to put an end to hooded acts of violence. Without specifying that, though, it sounds a bit goofy.
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