Actress Alyssa Milano: Masks Will "Protect You More Than An AR-15"

[Ubiquitous]

Actress and progressive activist Alyssa Milano tried to convince
"anti-maskers" on Twitter Monday to adopt the practice of wearing face
coverings to protect them from the novel coronavirus, assuring them
that a mask will protect them "more than an AR-15" ever will.

Milano, who is virulently pro-gun control, pledged earlier this month
to extend an "olive branch" to President Donald Trump's supporters,
even though she has occasionally referred to them as racists and once
compared the president's fans to Nazis.

In an apparent overture to those who disagree with her, ideologically,
Milano decided to argue the benefits of wearing a mask - a practice
which is now recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, as well as most medical professionals.

"Anti-maskers are the same people who think they need an AR-15 for
`protection,'" Milano tweeted, apparently linking masks and support for
gun rights - a link that does not seem to be backed by official
research.

Concerned that she was not reaching the right audience, Milano
continued, "LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK: A MASK WILL PROTECT YOU
*MORE* THAN AN AR-15 WILL."

"Louder for people in the back" is usually reserved for those
retweeting or replying to a statement, but Milano restricts her Twitter
account so that just her approved followers are allowed to interact
with her missives.

Mask recommendations have, of course, changed over the course of the
pandemic. Early on, in order to preserve stocks of masks for front line
health care workers, many health officials cautioned against wearing
masks, even when temporarily breaking stay-at-home orders to make
essential trips. Authorities now largely agree that mask-wearing can
prevent or slow the spread of the coronavirus when social distancing is
not possible.

But while masks are a recommended precaution against COVID-19, Milano's
theory has some holes.

The threat of coronavirus is also very different from a threat that
necessitates an armed response. For instance, when suspicious strangers
were spotted near Milano's home last month, armed law enforcement
officials were called to handle the alleged intrusion, according to Fox
News.

Twitter commentators happily pointed out that different situations
require different responses and that while masks may protect
individuals from disease, AR-15s provide an entirely different form of
- voluntary - protection.

"Uh, they could theoretically both protect you against different
things. Is there a reason you think these two things are mutually
exclusive? Or related in any logical way at all?" Twitter user
"molratty" quipped.

"Surely I'm not the only person in America who believes wearing a mask
helps reduce virus spread and firearms protect from those who wish you
harm." added Kimberly Ross.

"When someone tried breaking into my house in the Philly burbs the cops
told me to buy a gun I have no issue wearing a mask, at all I also have
many guns. Alyssa is a bad person," wrote Tim Pool.

Milano has long lectured about the efficacy of masks from her Twitter
account while wearing a handmade mask with a filter pocket. She later
contracted COVID-19 and is a self-described COVID "long hauler" -
someone who continues to experience the effects of the disease weeks
and months after officially recovering. She has not revealed how or
where she contracted the novel coronavirus.

--
Trump won.