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When COVID hit, people around the world started wearing face masks over their noses and mouths. This was branded as a protective measure against the virus, designed to "stop the spread" among individuals infected, whether knowingly or unknowingly.

COVID has come and gone, but in real time, many Americans are still wearing coverings over their faces. Some feel it's more sanitary in certain environments; other folks have different reasons for masking up.

In North Carolina, however, people may soon be required to unmask when they're out and about. GOP lawmakers in the state legislature are currently working to ban public mask-wearing under most circumstances.

What's driving this latest push?

Amid protesters at violent, anti-Israel demonstrations often wearing face masks, some North Carolina lawmakers feel it's time to walk back masking in public. This unsurprisingly falls along party lines, with Republicans supporting the measure far more than Democrats.

If North Carolina Republicans get their way, individuals who commit crimes while wearing masks will also face harsher legal penalties. The legislation furthermore prohibits people from obstructing roads and emergency vehicles while protesting.

Democratic opponents of outlawing public masking worry that it could threaten the health of state residents. Their concern particular revolves around North Carolinians who struggle with compromised immune systems and other medical complications.

GOP lawmakers, on the other hand, argue that individuals who don masks for health reasons wouldn't suffer under the latest bill. The idea, Republicans maintain, is to stop folks who mask up for the sole purpose of concealing their personal identities.

At this time, the bill is currently working through the Senate. From there, it will head to the House. If North Carolina's House votes in favor, the legislation will next go to the desk of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

This could gain traction

If lawbreaking Americans continue demonstrating a pattern of wearing masks in the act, more state legislators throughout the country could propose bills similar to North Carolina's.

It'll also become exponentially easier for proponents to argue that the original reasoning for allowing mask-wearing in public has since been rendered null and void. Should this occur, lawmakers remain likely to carve out exceptions for individuals with compromised immune systems or other health issues that necessitate extra precautions.