Every American has the right to choose whether to be vaccinated. While COVID-19 is an unprecedented public health challenge, requiring individuals to receive a vaccine is not the answer. Even more alarming is the thought that our government would force people to be vaccinated in order to enter a grocery store, dance at a wedding or dine indoors, and expect business owners and employees to police this effort.

In my view, the overwhelming majority of business owners like me want no part in discriminating against people who chose not to get a vaccine. We in business certainly do not support arbitrary and extended shutdowns of businesses. To address these issues and constantly changing guidelines, and to keep our economy on the rebound, Florida passed a law that draws a clear line in our beautiful white sand. No shutdowns. No vaccine discrimination. Strong liability protections for businesses and health care providers acting in good faith.

I am proud to say Gov. Ron DeSantis didn’t need this law to guide his decisions. Florida’s economy never shut down. Though faced with intense challenges, businesses across our state kept right on fueling our economy. We had no other choice. Chickens don’t feed themselves. They eat five times a day, seven days a week, pandemic or no pandemic. My farm delivered 288 million eggs to grocery stores last year, without a single vaccine passport. Business owners across the country have done the same thing, incurring significant expenses to incorporate every changing protocol.

We have done what was asked. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s not backtrack. With nearly 120 million fully vaccinated adults in the United States, we don’t need this overreach. We can stay safe, we can stay open, and we can stay the free country we all cherish.

Wilton Simpson is a lifelong egg farmer from Trilby, Florida, who serves as president of the Florida Senate. He has received his COVID-19 vaccine.