Three pastors arechallenging the constitutionality of a stay-at-home order issued by Texas officials in the county that includes Houston, saying the mandate improperly tramples on individual freedoms by closing churches and failing to designate gun stores “essential” businesses.
The pastors — along with a conservative activist — filed a request with theTexas Supreme Court Monday in one of the first challenges to stay-at-home orders in the country.
More than 250 million people in at least 30 states are being urged to stay home to curtail the spread of the pandemic. Texas Governor Greg Abbott hasn’t issued a state-wide order but local restrictions have been put in place in Dallas and Houston.
In general, state and local governments have broad powers to place such restrictions in place on non-essential businesses and gatherings.
“This order strikes at First Amendment liberties all citizens enjoy,” said Jared Woodfill, a lawyer for the pastors. “People are using this pandemic as justification to infringe on personal liberties people fought and died for.”
A spokesperson for Harris County JudgeLina Hidalgo, who issued the stay-home order earlier this month, said the measure was legally proper.
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