California Moves Closer to Banning Youth Tackle Football

Assembly Bill 734, Aimed at Preventing Youth Brain Injuries, Faces Opposition Over Parental Rights and Potential Impact on Vulnerable Communities

California's Assembly Bill 734, which would ban tackle football for children under 12, has passed in the State Assembly's Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism in a 5-2 vote.
The bill, authored by Democrat state Rep. Kevin McCarty, is backed by safety concerns over the risk of traumatic brain injuries in young children, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Opponents of the bill argue it is discriminatory and infringes on parental rights, with some suggesting it could negatively impact inner city and rural youth.
The bill now moves to the full body of the California State Assembly and must be passed by the end of January to become law. If passed, California will become the first state in the US to ban youth tackle football.
Research has shown that tackle football can cause brain damage, with the risk increasing the longer people play the sport. However, critics argue that all sports carry inherent risks and that football should not be singled out.