San Francisco may soon become the first city to ban the practice of circumcision. There is a measure on the ballot that would make circumcision illegal in the city, punishable by a $1,000 fine or one year in jail.
Of course, some people are not taking this lying down. Last week a lawsuit was filed in an effort to remove the measure from the ballot, arguing that California law prevents municipalities from banning medical procedures.
According to an article on NPR.org, even if the measure did stay on the ballot, says First Amendment attorney Martin Nussbaum, it's doubtful it would hold up in court.
One of the arguments for banning circumcision is that it is comparable to the practice of female genital cutting, which is illegal. Are these two procedures indeed comparable? If so, why does the ban on female genital mutilation enjoy widespread support when a ban on circumcision would not?
Should the government ban a personal, cultural or religious decision that has been around for centuries?
Read what the Moms Council has to say.
Paula Wallace: Government needs to stay out of this! We live in a free country ... at least that is what i thought! We are not communist, and we fight for our freedom, and last i checked, circumcision is a choice made for the child by the parents, not government!
Wendy Bucknum: The government needs to stay out of this issue, period.
Jen Crocker: I think it is a waste of taxpayers' money to even think about putting this on the ballot, then to have a suit filed to take it off. People have a right to do what they want to their bodies. The process of circumcision is not dangerous or hurtful to the child in any way. It should actually be mandatory, if you look at it from a health point of view.
Look for Mom Talk every Wednesday at 1 p.m. for parenting topics, and get into the discussion.
