By DOUG REILLY
Los Alamos resident

Many LANL employees read the Los Alamos Daily Post; hence I write the following regarding the Lab COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Thursday’s Albuquerque Journal had a front page article entitled LANL workers suing lab over shot mandate; today’s Journal had one entitled Bid to block LANL vaccine order denied.

The anti-vexers on this vaccine, both here and around the nation, have no leg to stand on, in my opinion. The country, even some of its judges and lawyers do not correctly understand the First Amendment freedoms, Speech, Religion, Assembly, and the Press. These apply to individuals; by this I mean, if what one wishes to do only affects themselves, he/she is free to do anything they wish. However, if it affects others, they are not free to do so. In other words, choosing not to get the vaccine definitely puts others at risk if one gets the virus. Clearly the requirement to obtain the vaccine must be enforced.

I realize there are many such people around the country; there are even state governors, as in Florida and Texas, who are issuing administrative orders outlawing vaccine and masking requirements. As proposed by some LANL employees, there are cases in courts attempting to declare such mandates illegal and unconstitutional.

Allow me to illustrate how I understand the First Amendment freedoms. I think all of us have learned the example of Freedom of Speech not allowing one to shout FIRE, in a crowded theatre, WHEN THERE IS NO FIRE. Equally, I believe the Freedom of Religion to mean one is able to belong to any or no religion; they are not allowed to attempt to force their belief on others. Considering the Freedom of Assembly, I interpret this as allowing individuals and groups to assemble peacefully and demonstrate for or against issues important to them. This freedom does not allow violence, injury, and death, as we have seen around the nation for years. I realize that Freedom of the Press is also protected by laws regarding Slander and Libel. However, I think there should be some restriction of publication of lies that are clearly incorrect. There’s always been such, but we’ve seen a large increase in recent years.