TN Looking At Tougher Tattoo Law
The sponsor of legislation that seeks to strengthen a Tennessee law prohibiting the tattooing of minors says the measure would also help fight gang activity, even though critics lament the proposal could be burdensome.
Currently, a person under 18 cannot get a tattoo. A 16-year-old can be tattooed to cover up an existing tattoo, but only with the consent of a parent or guardian, who must be present during the procedure.
Rep. Antonio Parkinson’s proposal would mirror the state’s child abuse law, which requires signs of abuse to be reported to law enforcement or an entity like the Health Department. Those making the report might be a physician, a police officer or someone in education, such as a teacher.
“Just like if a teacher sees a minor with a bruise on their back, minors with tattoos would be reported the same,” Parkinson said of his bill.
The Memphis Democrat said he proposed the legislation after hearing about places where minors were being tattooed illegally, and possibly risked being exposed to equipment not properly sanitized.
He said one woman told him her teenage daughter got a tattoo at such a place. The mark ended up costing the girl her job at a fast food restaurant that didn’t allow its employees to have tattoos.
