We reported earlier on a Webster, MA law that was passed to allow 14-year olds to get tattooed in order to prevent them from getting tattooed by scratchers – which makes no fuckin sense at all. Well, now Nashville, TN has taken a stab at cracking down on minors getting tattooed and their law actually makes sense and addresses the problems core!
A proposal in Tennessee that seeks to crack down on the tattooing of minors has been signed into law by Gov. Bill Haslam. The measure, signed by the Republican governor this week, unanimously passed the Senate 31-0 and was approved 86-6 in the House.
The law makes it illegal for anyone who is unlicensed to possess tattooing paraphernalia. The measure also encourages reporting incidents of underage tattooing to the Health Department. Those making the report might be a police officer or someone in education, such as a teacher or school resource officer.
Currently, a person under 18 cannot get a tattoo. A 16-year-old can be tattooed to cover up an existing tattoo, but only if a parent or guardian is present.
Take note Webster! Making it illegal for scratchers and unlicensed tattooers to tattoo prevents underage kids from getting tattooed in the first place!
This law is only going to end up causing teenagers to use dirty equipment. if they really want a tattoo they’ll find a way, having whoever they can find(which will be someone willing to break the law, im sure thats safe for them) do it with preused needles and god knows what unsanitary conditions. I’m not saying fourteen year olds need to be getting tattoos but its much safer for them to have it done by a professional than any random person willing to break the law