Ban on Circumcision Could Become Law in Santa Monica KTLA News - May 27, 2011
SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Circumcising a boy under the age of 18, even for religious reasons,
may soon be against the law in Santa Monica.
A proposed ban on circumcision is already on the November ballot in San Francisco.
Now supporters of the MGM Bill, which stands for male genital mutilation, are hoping to
do the same in Santa Monica.
Female circumcision, or also called female genital mutilation, is already outlawed in the U.S.
Jenna Troutman, a spokeswoman for the group MGM Bill and founder of the
website wholebabyrevolution.com, says males should get the same protection.
The group describes circumcision as a painful and unnecessary procedure.
But
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, circumcision
has been associated with a lower risk for HIV, urinary infections and the transmission
of STD's.
Circumcision of male infants is a religious requirement in Judaism and some say a
ban would be a violation of the 1st Amendment.
The proposed measure in San Francisco would "make it a misdemeanor to circumcise,
excise, cut or mutilate the foreskin, testicle or penis of another person who has not
attained the
age of 18,"
Under the San Francisco measure,
circumcising a boy would result in a fine of up to $1,000
and up to one year in jail. http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-circumcision-ban-santa-monica,0,857021.story