Overview

Obviously, our nation has been largely affected by the Coronavirus, and some have lost loved ones due to the virus. My thoughts and prayers go out to any of you who have lost loved ones.

However, my concern is the gradual overreach of our state officials. First, it was “stay at home orders”, non-essential businesses being closed, places of worship shut down, and “social distancing”. Next, they required us to wear masks. Now, the state plans on implementing “contact tracing” by the third week of May.
https://patch.com/connecticut/across-ct/coronaviru...

Essentially, contact tracing is a form of surveillance that invades our privacy. In short, if someone tests positive for the virus, they will have a “contact tracer” contact them to see who they have been in contact with. Then anyone that has been in contact with the infected individual will be strongly advised to isolate for 14 days.

California governor, Gavin Newsom, is on record stating the following in regards to “contact tracing”,

“The predicate for getting back to some semblance of normalcy is our ability to identify individuals through testing to be able to trace there contacts, to isolate individuals, that have either been exposed and quarantine people who have tested positive...And that is just going to require an army of folks and the capacity of individuals to allow for their privacy to be impacted by that kind of acutely of attention based upon, where they have been and who they have talked to”. https://youtu.be/SAbeW9rMuo8

In my view, this is clearly intruding on our privacy, which violates the 4th amendment. The state government should not be tracking and storing data on whom we come into contact with, regardless if there is a public health crisis or not. If we continue to allow the government to exert powers that go beyond our state constitution and US constitution, they will continually grasp after more power and control. This is not the role of government.

Rationale

By viewing the statistics of Covid-19 in our state, the data does not support the draconian measures which have been taken by government. Therefore, governmental overreach is not only unconstitutional, but clearly intrusive.

As of May 23, 2020
Population of Connecticut: 3.7 million

Covid-19 cases: 39,640

Percentage of population that has been infected .10

Deaths due to Covid-19: 3,637

Percentage of population that has died

due to Covid-19 .0009%

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/...

In addition, the mortality count is inflated and does not reflect the actual number of people who have passed directly from Covid-19. As Governor Lamont has stated himself,

“The reason for the high death rate is because Connecticut has a broader definition of a coronavirus-related deaths. Connecticut defines coronavirus-related deaths as, "COVID-19-associated deaths include persons who tested positive for COVID-19 around the time of death and persons who were not tested for COVID-19 whose death certificate lists COVID-19 disease as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death." https://patch.com/connecticut/across-ct/ct-coronav...

With that being said, over 99.9991%, or higher, of the population has not succumbed to Covid-19.

2. Since these are the facts, why would we allow government to infringe upon the very rights that are in our Constitution? Are we willing to disregard our Constitution and liberties due to a mortality rate of .0009%? Furthermore, when it comes to wearing a mask, social distancing, etc, there is no hard data that suggest these measures have contributed to slowing the spread of the virus. Case in point, the country of Sweden has not implemented any regulations and have only made recommendations to the public. Not “orders” and certainly not “contact tracing”. Ironically enough, Sweden’s mortality rate is slightly lower than ours, at .0003%

3. Lastly, when we look at the facts and contrasting data, the measures that have been implemented clearly violate our rights and liberties. Moreover, these implementations are neither reasonable, nor justified by law. As citizens of the United States and residents of Connecticut, the government does not have the authority to implement such draconian policies, especially when it is unreasonable.

Laws that Apply
According to our state constitution:

SEC. 2. All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit; and they have at all times an undeniable and indefeasible right to alter their form of government in such manner as they may think expedient.

SEC. 3. The exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, shall forever be free to all persons in the state; provided, that the right hereby declared and established, shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or to justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the state.

SEC. 14. The citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government, for redress of grievances, or other proper purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance.

United States Constitution

1st Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

4th Amendment: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

5th Amendment: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

14th Amendment: All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

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