Rape of a child is illegal anywhere in the United States. But we cannot say the same of mutilating the genitals of children.

If a man with a government-issued license in New York performs surgery or prescribes chemicals that mutilates a child's genitals, and the child says they wanted that, that man is not prosecuted by either the state government or the federal government. In fact, he is financially rewarded for such behavior.

But if that same man rapes a child, that is ILLEGAL in any state of the nation.

What is the difference between rape and genital mutilation? Both can cause life-long psychological harm and the latter is guaranteed to leave behind a daily physical reminder of how their body was violated.

Instead of withholding funding to force states to protect children, here are other ideas, if they are indeed serious about protecting children NOW:

• Pass a federal law banning genital-related surgeries on minors.

• Launch investigations into hospitals or clinics suspected of violating children

• Reclassify puberty blockers or hormone therapies as experimental or high-risk for minors. That drug classification could restrict their use under federal drug safety laws.

• If a state is deemed unwilling to protect children, the president could invoke emergency powers. Troops could be sent to enforce federal law that protects minors.

• Revoke licenses for anyone that performed genital mutilation. Those licenses are issued by the government.

• Classify violators as child predators. Add those violators to the public sex offender registry.

I suspect the government shutdown is mostly drama intended to contribute to the Second American Civil War and further weakening of the nation, leading to the collapse of the last great superpower. I do not believe that the federal government actually cares about children.... but I pray God would intervene and protect the children!

If they cared, then why haven't they performed a serious investigation into the pedophiles listed in the Epstein documents?