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Iris Nieves
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It is sure to be a hot button topic, Massachusetts lawmakers have before them a bill banning tackle football for those kids under 8th grade.  7NewsBoston reporting quotes State Rep. Paul Schmid, a Democrat from Fall River saying the bill was necessary in light of recent research.  “Hits to the head are bad, the younger you are when you start, the worse it is for you.”  The research he is mentioning involves on CTE short for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

 

State lawmakers heard testimony from individuals whose lives have been affected by the disease such as Angela Campigotto-Harrison who lost her father to CTE.  On the opposite side of the argument are those, such as Scott Hallenbeck, CEO of USA Football who 7NewsBoston quotes as saying “Parents do not want their government telling them when their kids can play football.  They want to make informed decisions for themselves.”

My oldest son, Jamie, played football in middle school and I had never heard of CTE.  I am not sure if I would have encouraged him to play had I known the dangers.  Then again, education on CTE has become widely available in recent years and I understand the feelings of those who do not want the government making decisions for their kids.  This is sure to be a hot topic, whichever side you are on.

 

 

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