If you have a baby boy, would you circumcise him? What are the reasons that support your decision? If you against the idea, what are the reasons? In 2011, a group of pro-foreskin people in San Francisco said they had collected enough signatures to put a proposal to ban circumcision before voters. The proposal would make it a crime to perform circumcision on a male under the age of 18 within the city. Anyone who ignored the ban would face a $1,000 fine and one year in jail. In July, a judge ordered to take the proposal from San Francisco’s November ballot to ban circumcision, ruling that state law preempts the city from regulating the medical profession. After the failed attempt to ban circumcision, the state of California enacted in October 2011 a law protecting circumcision from local attempts to ban the practice. However, the issue still stirs discussion as it is controversial. 

To find out more, click on the link below to read the story at

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/28/san-franciscos-anti-circumcision-vote-cut-from-bal/ (Links to an external site.)

Also, please see David Reimer’s story at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXJN_zXcspM  (Links to an external site.)

For this week’s discussion, answer the following questions:

• If you have a baby boy, would you circumcise him? Why or why not? 
• If you decide to circumcise your baby boy, when would you do it?
• After viewing the news and David’s story, have you changed your mind? Why or why not?
• Is circumcision unnecessary and abusive? Should it be banned? State your rationale clearly.