Proposed Law Against Football

Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist who's mission is to prove that NFL players develop the brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) as a direct result of football, has suggested that there be a law passed requiring children to reach the legal age of consent before they can play football. "We have a legal age for drinking alcohol; for joining the military; for voting; for smoking; for driving; and for consenting to have sex," he wrote. "We must have the same when it comes to protecting the organ that defines who we are as human beings." Omalu argues that by setting a legal age, these adults would be allowed to decide themselves whether or not they want to play, instead of being pressured as kids. CTE can only be detected in the dead, so it is difficult to decide just how dangerous playing football at a young age is, compared to later in life. However, two studies this year have shown that NFL players who played football before age 12 had an increased risk of mental issues later in life. Neurosurgeon Robert Cantu has recommended that children should avoid tackle football at least until the age of fourteen, and others have agreed, but Omalu's idea to make football illegal to high school students as well as younger children is almost crazy. However, it is likely more and more people begin to agree with Omalu, since at least eleven high school football players have died this year.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bennet-omalu-football_5665d244e4b072e9d1c6e10b