NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Two days after Gov. Bill Lee announced an executive order that seeks to limit gatherings to just 10 people, Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris says his office won't be enforcing that.
Farris released a statement Tuesday, saying the sheriff’s office would not use its resources to “restrict your constitutional liberty… especially while hundreds of people are allowed to be in grocery stores together on any given day of the week.”
Farris went on to say he trusts citizens to make the right choices for themselves. Read his full statement below:
“In light of Governor Bill Lee’s latest Executive Order, citizens of Putnam County should know that the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office will NOT be using our resources to restrict your constitutional liberty by ensuring ‘only ten people’ are gathered together for indoor public gatherings over the holiday weekend, especially while hundreds of people are allowed to be in grocery stores together on any given day of the week. Deputies will not be seeking out violators of this order. We trust our citizens to use their constitutional liberty to make the right choices and decisions for themselves when planning social gatherings with family for Christmas and any other time. If you are sick, stay home; otherwise, enjoy your family and have a Merry Christmas.”
Gov. Lee gave a statewide address Sunday night asking Tennesseans to wear masks and avoid gatherings with anyone other than their immediate household in hopes of avoiding another surge of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
