State Senator Lora Reinbold (R-Eagle River) is urging military leadership at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to repeal its new COVID policy that forces all base personnel to avoid local activities, businesses and other establishments that do not require mask mandates, social distancing, proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID test. The only exceptions are for accessing so-called “essential services,” such as grocery stores, school sponsored activities and religious services.
Announced on Sept. 28 through a memo by Air Force Col. Kirsten Aguilar, JBER commander, the new mandate also requires all personnel to wear masks indoors, on and off base, and outside when unable to social distance. The order applies to personnel who live, work and recreate on JBER, as well as visitors.
Reinbold, who represents military personnel in the Eagle River area, blasted the new mandate in an Oct. 1 statement.
COVID should not be used as a pretense, to import any type of punitive or coercive measures into what should be, the freest state, in the freest nation in the world.”
“I urge Colonel Aguilar to immediately rescind her unnecessary and oppressive COVID policies,” Reinbold said. “Her excessive measures usurp state and local authority. Aguilar’s aggressive policies impact military members, their families, civilian personnel and visitors. Her public policy attempts will negatively impact numerous local businesses, who have already taken the brunt of COVID mitigation measures. Our military, who lay their lives down for our country, deserve their liberties to be upheld and defended by their commanders.”
Reinbold criticized the mandate for requiring family members of JBER personnel to quarantine if they come in close contact with a COVID positive person, saying it will “only serve to increase tensions, in an already difficult situation.”
She also emphasized that growing natural immunity and effective treatments should be taken into account, as well as the fact that COVID presents limited risks to a “broadly young military, who strive to stay fit.”
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“Our men and women in uniform defend our freedom, and we must defend theirs,” she said. “Our nation was founded on preserving individual liberties. As a state Senator, I swore to uphold and defend the US and state constitution and as a JBER Honorary Commander, I took an oath to support our military.”
Reinbold has been an outspoken critic of the experimental mRNA COVID shots, which are still undergoing trials and testing.
“Singling out those who have intentionally not taken the vaccine, that has diminishing efficacy and unknown long-term safety profiles, is simply un-American,” she said. “COVID should not be used as a pretense, to import any type of punitive or coercive measures into what should be, the freest state, in the freest nation in the world.”
SEN. REINBOLD’S FULL STATEMENT FROM OCT. 1
I urge Colonel Aguilar to immediately rescind her unnecessary and oppressive COVID policies.
Her excessive measures usurp state and local authority. Aguilar’s aggressive policies impact military members, their families, civilian personnel, and visitors. Her public policy attempts will negatively impact numerous local businesses, who have already taken the brunt of COVID mitigation measures. Our military, who lay their lives down for our country, deserve their liberties to be upheld and defended by their commanders.
Colonel Aguilar’s policies likely violate the Posse Comitatus Act. The act limits the powers of the federal government to use federal military personnel, to enforce domestic policies.
Attempting to impose mask mandates, showing proof of a “vaccination,” limiting access to local businesses, and quarantining family members and visitors, only serve to increase tensions, in an already difficult situation.
As we approach the two-year mark of this pandemic, effective treatments are now known and must be made available. Ref: AFLDS.org & https://covid19criticalcare.com/
Natural immunity is growing, many experts believe it provides superior immunity and must be recognized.
The oppressive measures Aguilar is implementing, do not match the limited risk COVID 19 presents to our broadly young military, who strive to stay fit. Our men and women in uniform defend our freedom, and we must defend theirs. Our nation was founded on preserving individual liberties.
As a state Senator, I swore to uphold and defend the US and state constitution and as a JBER Honorary Commander, I took an oath to support our military.
I adamantly disagree with forcing anyone to take the new MRNA gene therapy technology, COVID shot, that is still under investigation. Only the brand name Comirnaty, has been licensed to market. Individuals must demand the licensed product if they chose to take the COVID shot.
Note: Alaska state law allows Alaskans to legally decline any medical intervention.
In addition to some of the most credentialed and publicized physicians in America, flight surgeons both in the Army and Navy, have exposed grave concerns of the negative impacts the COVID shot.
The Colonel’s policy, requiring service members to show proof of COVID vax, is contrary to science and violates privacy rights.
The data clearly shows, and public health officials agree, that those who are vaccinated can contract and spread COVID. Singling out those who have intentionally not taken the vaccine, that has diminishing efficacy and unknown long-term safety profiles, is simply un-American.
Rendering this kind of heavy-handed, approach coupled with forced mRNA ‘vaccinations’ most definitely violate Constitutional rights.
COVID should not be used as a pretense, to import any type of punitive or coercive measures into what should be, the freest state, in the freest nation, in the world.
