A California group opposed to male circumcision has gathered enough signatures for a ballot initiative to bar the practice in San Francisco. Legal experts, however, said even if such a measure were to pass, it would likely be quickly overturned as an unconstitutional attack on the grounds of religious freedom.
Chief opponent Lloyd Schofield, 59, acknowledged circumcision is a ritual among Jews and a common practice among Muslims, but insisted it should be outlawed.
"It's excruciatingly painful and permanently damaging surgery that's forced on men when they're at their weakest and most vulnerable," he said.
San Francisco officials say Schofield's group submitted about 12,000 signatures supporting his proposed ban, which is more than enough to get it on the ballot in November.
The measure, which would only apply in San Francisco, would make it a crime to circumcise a boy before he is 18 years of age, regardless of the parents' religious beliefs.
Experts say it is unlikely such a measure would stand up to legal challenge.
"The practice of Judaism requires a boy to be circumcised. I suspect the California courts would ultimately require the city to demonstrate the practice is harmful," said Jennifer Rothman, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
"I don't think there's sufficient medical evidence that it is, which would place the law's constitutionality in question."
Also, while Schofield has his supporters, it is unlikely that the majority of people in San Francisco would back a ban, experts say.
"I think that people are very likely to react to it as interfering with religious practices," said Josh Davis of the San Francisco School of Law.
Circumcision is a bag of bullsh!t! When they started making circumcision the norm. in the 40's most of the doctor's were jewish & that what they believed in! So they convinced american's that it was a hygeine issuse that needed to be done! But think about it? Would you like somebody cutting off piece of your clit when you're a baby! And if it's such an issue how come most of the world don't do it to their kids? If you ask questions & do your research you'll find out that it's not necessary that they do it to your babies! they sell the baby foreskin to make hella money! that's why they lie to you! I was one of the only one's in my family that choose not to do it to my son! He has to grow up being different & when he asked me about it! I just told him that the other kids parents are just stupid! lol!
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