Attorney General says churchgoers, protesters may congregate closer than six feet apart

[TexasTowelie]

Arizonans who assemble to worship or protests don’t necessarily have to keep six feet between them to avoid violating the governor’s executive order and thereby subjecting themselves to arrest and jail, Attorney General Mark Brnovich said Thursday.

In a formal legal opinion, Brnovich pointed out that Gov. Doug Ducey, in his order, specifically permits people to engage in constitutionally protected activity, including religion and speech. But that order said these are allowed only to the extent they are “conducted in a manner that provides appropriate physical distancing to the extent feasible.”

Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, who requested the opinion, noted that that Ducey, in other parts of his executive order, specifically required separation of six feet.

So, she asked Brnovich whether getting closer than six feet would put parishioners and others in legal jeopardy and subject them to the $600 fine and six months.

Read more: https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2020/04/30/attorney-general-says-churchgoers-protesters-may-congregate-closer-than-six-feet-apart/