Governor Newsom Takes a Stand Against Proposed Youth Tackle Football Ban

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday that he will veto a measure to ban youth tackle football in the state. The measure, which was gaining support among Democrats, has now become a new battleground in the ongoing culture wars.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that he will not support a groundbreaking bill that seeks to ban youth sports for children aged 12 and under. In an exclusive statement given to POLITICO, Newsom cited concerns over head injuries as the primary reason for his decision.

Youth Tackle FootballPhoto byLos Angeles Times

Newsom expressed his deep concern for the health and safety of young athletes, emphasizing that an outright ban is not the solution. The administration plans to collaborate with the Legislature and the bill's author to enhance safety measures in youth football. This will be done while also respecting the freedom of parents to make decisions regarding the most suitable sports for their children.

The governor has announced his intention to seek input from health and sports medicine experts, coaches, parents, and community members in order to uphold California's position as a leader in youth football safety.

He also said, "We owe that to the many families in California who have embraced youth sports." Newsom's choice to comment on the proposed law shows that it could be seen as a matter of culture war. Democrats in the state and others who were against the plan said it was an unnecessary expansion of government power and another case of leaders thinking they know better than parents.

People who supported it waited in line to say that it was necessary, saying that kids who are hit in the head at a younger age are more likely to develop a long-term brain disease called CTE later in life.

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, a Democrat from Sacramento, introduced the bill. It came four years after Newsom and other California lawmakers passed the California Youth Football Act, which set new safety standards for young players. In his statement Tuesday, Newsom referred to that law, saying that it protects young players in a wide range of ways, such as by setting standards for equipment and limiting their exposure to full-contact tackles.

In 2022, Newsom vetoed another bill by McCarty that would have set up a group to look into CTE in youth football. He did this because he thought the California Youth Football Act should have more time to take effect.

At least five other states have tried and failed to ban youth tackles. One politician in New York has been pushing for a ban for ten years.

Newsom has been aware of ideas that get a lot of attention because he thinks they make the state look out of touch and put Democrats in a tough spot before the election. He said again last week that he doesn't want a new tax on the rich because the state already depends on them a lot to help balance its budget.

The Source: politico