Mask Murder- Could Asking a Question Have Saved Their Lives?

By Lee Mozena, Founder & Owner of EXL Mediation 

The pandemic is global, but gun murders over mask requirements are unique to the USA. 

Bless the souls and families of the Georgia and Michigan workers who died doing their jobs while obeying laws that protect everyone. This is no judgement of them. 

But could these tragedies have been avoided through the simple de-escalation technique of asking a question? Or, perhaps it could have gained precious seconds for the victims to protect themselves?

Vaccines have made this small but potentially significant shift possible. Compare: "Sir, I'm afraid you might catch COVID if you don't wear a mask in our store. Can I offer you one?" to: " Sir, you can't enter without a mask." 

The former is a scientific fact that also reflects concern for the consumer. The latter is a command and more likely cause confrontation. Neither is unreasonable. Losing one's life over a scrap of cloth is.