'Time to stop this farce and let people travel in peace!' Sen. Rand Paul vows to introduce legislation to repeal federal mask mandate that forces passengers to wear them on planes

Outspoken Republican Senator Rand Paul has vowed to repeal a federal mask mandate forcing passengers to wear them on planes after blasting the rule. 

'Enough! Time to stop this farce and let people travel in peace!' the Kentucky lawmaker tweeted on Thursday. 

Currently, all people - vaccinated and unvaccinated - have to wear their masks while using public transportation, which includes planes, ferries and rail lines.  

It's a federal mandate included in President Joe Biden's executive order that he extended until Sept. 13, despite the CDC saying fully vaccinated do not need to worry about masks in general settings. 

Republican Sen. Rand Paul, pictured heading to a vote on the Senate floor on June 8 in Washington, promised to introduce legislation to repeal the federal mask mandate on planes

Paul sent this tweet on Thursday

Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, introduced a similar provision last month during a markup of the Rail and Safety Legislation in the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. 

But it failed; with committee members voting along party lines. 

The Twitterverse's reaction to Paul's promise was mixed, but more people seemed to be against the idea. 

Those who were in favor of it said they shouldn't be required to wear masks or get vaccinated and some claimed the masks don't even work. 

'Sally Ladd' applauded Paul's efforts, saying on Twitter, 'Thank you @RandPaul for your courage in speaking truth about this #Plandemic!' 

'Jim Bender' tweeted, 'The mask must be eliminated from everywhere. And Zero requirements of vaccinations to do anything. Pro freedom! Leave us alone!'

Twitter user 'Wynnie Sleziak' also thanked Paul and said, 'Wish folks would realize it’s all about power and control!! So many doctors have said masks don’t work but we are all brain washed to think they do…. So so sad!!!!!!! We don’t hear the truth of how many have died from the shot!!!!'

Some twitter users applauded Paul for his efforts to repeal the federal mask mandate

Those against the idea argued that the airline economy could took another hit because some people would be reluctant to fly without the mandate in place and raised concerns about COVID-19 variants that are impacting other parts of the world.   

'Then I’ll quit flying again and I’m sure I won’t be alone. It will also impact flight staff who may not feel safe in closed airplanes. So if your intent is to cripple air travel, it’s a great plan,' 'Msbmoran' said on Twitter. 

'Baron Brady' tweeted, 'There are people traveling from other parts of the world where there are more virulent viral strains that will put at risk the people who refuse to get vaccinated because of people like you. How is it your priority to put more lives at risk?' 

Twitter user 'Mary A' responded to Paul's tweet saying, 'Airlines know most people want to avoid getting themselves or others sick by catching an illness preventable by vaccinating or masking. They don't want to lose all their business again just when people are starting to fly again. They'll keep requiring masks. Stop wasting time.'

'Trust Science - Trust Facts' told Paul on Twitter, 'My 5 year old granddaughter cooperates with wearing a mask when needed because she is mature enough to do that & her parents are intelligent enough to explain to her that it is for her safety. She doesn't complain. Grow up to at least the level of maturity of a 5 year old.' 

These tweets are a few examples of arguments against Paul's push to end the mask mandate

Paul, himself, has been outspoken about letting people decide if they want to wear a mask and if they want to get vaccinated.

He bumped heads on Twitter a day earlier - July 7 - with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki after she said the Biden administration will engage in 'targeted community by community door-to-door outreach to get remaining Americans vaccinated.'

Paul tweeted a video of the announcement and said, 'No. The gov't doesn't decide who gets vaccinated. You do. Do not submit to the fearmongers.' 

Paul has also locked horns with White House COVID tsar Dr Anthony Fauci, earning himself a rebuke from the feted doctor after claiming it was 'theater' to wear masks after being vaccinated.  

As of Saturday afternoon, 55.4 percent of Americans eligible for the vaccine have at least one dose and 47.9 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. 

That includes adolescents 12 and older.  

The percentage of adult Americans 18 and older who have at least one shot is 67.5 percent and 58.7 percent are full vaccinated.