Passengers at Charlotte Douglas react to possibility of lifting federal mask mandate

CHARLOTTE — Face masks have been part of our everyday lives for the last few years.

But as COVID-19 cases begin to decline once again, some states are taking steps to get rid of mask mandates for good.

However, dropping to federal mandate lies in the hands of Congress.

The federal mandate requires masks on all public transportation. This includes planes, trains, buses and cabs.

Rep. Dan Bishop said he is fighting to change that. Late last week, Bishop said he filed a bill to scrap the mandate for masks on public transportation.

ALSO READ: Mask protocols around Mecklenburg County

Channel 9 spoke with passengers at Charlotte Douglas Airport about how they feel about going maskless.

Some people said they believe it is too soon, while others said they feel it can’t come soon enough.

“I believe it’s a little too early to drop those precautions. And it seems like that’s like kind of been the trend here,” passenger Brigette Smalls said.

“I think it’s time to get rid of it. I think that it’s at a point now where we just gotta let this play out. And we’ve been forced to do this for so long. Everybody is burnt out on it,” passenger Rachel Kelly said.

Passenger Patrick Jones said he will continue to wear masks. “Well, I think people wearing masks do help prevent the spread of disease so I’m all for it,” Jones said.

However, Samual Brodner said he won’t because he thinks it will make flying more pleasant.

“A little less aggravated and maybe happier to be in public transportation. I mean we’ve all seen the YouTube videos of people getting very angry about having to put on a mask,” Brodner said.

ALSO READ: UNC Charlotte adjusts mask protocols following Meck County’s vote to drop mandate

Bishop said his bill is modeled after a bill that Sen. Rand Paul introduced over the summer. That bill ultimately failed.

Federal regulations that required masks on public transportation have been extended until next month. The future of the bill beyond that is unknown.

The mask mandate in Mecklenburg County is set to end on Saturday.

That does not, however, apply to public transportation.

(WATCH BELOW: Mask protocols around Mecklenburg County)