California state lawmakers tried to ban youth football for anyone under the age of 12, but California Gov. Gavin Newsom would not sign the bill into law.
According to a report from Politico, Gavin Newsom decided to veto a bill that would have banned youth tackle football in the state. Newsome supports making the game of football safer, especially for young athletes, but he does not think that a complete ban on contact football is the way to go about solving the problem.
“I am deeply concerned about the health and safety of our young athletes, but an outright ban is not the answer,” Newsom said in a statement according to Pro Football Talk. “My administration will work with the Legislature and the bill’s author to strengthen safety in youth football — while ensuring parents have the freedom to decide which sports are most appropriate for their children.”
The bill’s author, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, said that while he values rights and freedoms, he thinks sometimes the government has to step in for safety reasons.
“I think it’s a tough conversation to have,” McCarty said before Newsom announced his decision to veto to bill. “We all like freedoms and rights. But every once in a while the government steps in.”
Five other states across the country have tried and failed to institute a similar ban on youth tackle football.
[Politico]
