- ATLANTA - Genital piercings
for women were banned by the Georgia House Wednesday as lawmakers considered
a bill outlining punishments for female genital mutilation.
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- The bill would make such mutilation punishable by two
to 20 years in prison. It makes no exception for people who give consent
to have the procedure performed on their daughters out of religious or
cultural custom.
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- An amendment adopted without objection added "piercing"
to the list of things that may not be done to female genitals. Even adult
women would not be allowed to get the procedure. The bill eventually passed
160-0, with no debate.
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- Amendment sponsor Rep. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, was slack-jawed
when told after the vote that some adults seek the piercings.
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- "What? I've never seen such a thing," Heath
said. "I, uh, I wouldn't approve of anyone doing it. I don't think
that's an appropriate thing to be doing."
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- The ban applies only to women, not men. The bill has
already been approved by the Senate but now must return to that chamber
because of the piercing amendment. Both chambers of the Legislature must
agree on a single version of a bill before it can go to the governor for
final approval.
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