this is a harmful procedure. >> a judge later decided to strike schofield's initiative from the ballotruling a city cannot regulate medical procedures and citing religious freedom protections because for jews and muslims, circumcision is considered a religious right. bill from local government from banning circumcision. >> we had a lot of biased politicians or religious leaders who were against our initiative so we did not even get a chance to take this to the people. i'm sure we would have been quite successful. >> opposition to what was once thought of as a routine procedure, removal of the foreskin of a baby, is growing. some call it genital mutilation. others say no matter how traditional they're not see if it's necessary. >> i didn't really see any medical purpose for it. and i watched a dvd and read a little bit about it and just decided like there's no need to do that. it's kind of an old tradition. >> most recent statistics show that over the last 30 years, circumcisions have decreased nationwide by six percentage points. when his son was born physicians said do you want to hav

in 2011 schofield collected enough signatures to get a ban oof circumcision on the ballot n san francisco. >> it's unnecessary. the motto of the medical professional is do no harm. this is a harmful procedure. >> reporter: a judge decided to strike the initiative from the ballot ruling a city cannot regulate medical procedures and citing religious freedom, because for jews and muslims it's considered a sacred right. >> there were a lot of bias politicians and religious leaders who were against our initiatives, so we didn't even get a chance to take this to the people. i'm sure we would have been successful. >> reporter: the circumcision once thought a surgical procedure some call it genital mutilation. others don't see why it's necessary. >> i don't see a medical purpose for it, and i--i watched a dvd and read a little bit about it, and decided there is no need to do that. it's an old tradition. >> most recent statistics show that over the last 30 years circumcisions have decreased nationwide by 6 percentage points. when asked if he wanted to have his son circumcised. >> i don't know, it

. >> a judge decided to strike schofield ban.he governor signed a local bill preventing the ban. >> we have biased religious leaders, otherwise this would have been successful. >> reporter: surgical removal of foreskin off the penis of the baby, some call it mutilation. >> i don't see any medical purpose for it, and i watched a dvd and read a little bit about it, and decided, look, there is no need to do that. it's an older tradition. >> most recent statistics show over the last 30 years circumcisions have decreased nationwide by six percentage points. medical staff asked if he wanted to have him circumcised. >> i don't think--it has not been on our radar, so when credit it had i almost didn't know the words. then we didn't do it. we didn't know anything about it. >> reporter: ththe american academy of pediatrics say circumsix lowers the risk of urinary track infections and other diseases. >> it's not something that we're mandating for all male boys. >> reporter: her muslim faith and cleanliness played a role with her going throu