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Expression"Once again, Utah's politiciansare attempting toestablish laws that are misguided bytheir very nature, andunnecessary. Senator Charles H.Stewart, Utah County, has drafted abill that will establish an age limit forpersons to receive tattoos. This draft, ifapproved. will be reviewed and votedupon during the 19% LegislativeSession, which begins this month.Mic Radford, owner of SouthernThunder Tattoos, after hearing of thisbill, phoned the Senator directly.Stewart informed Radford that, insummary, his bill will make it a felonyfor a tattoo artist to provide services toanyone under the age of 19. Radfordand the owners of Utah's other tattoostudios have since been in contact; all'have expressed opposition to regulationof the tattoo profession.According to the office ofLegislative Research & GeneralCounsel, as of Jan. 4 the bill had justundergone its first draft. The text nowmust be approved by the Senator,returned to Legislative Research, whowill request a final approval from theSenator, and assigned a number beforebeing introduced this LegislativeSession. Given the current status of thebill, the Senator could still makechanges if he wishes. "Regardless ofany changes the Senator may make,I'm opposed to any regulation of thetattoo industry" says Radford. 'Thereare important issues at stake that Ibelieve preclude any laws whatsoever"Senator Stewart is a physician byprofession. When Radford pressed himabout the basis of the bill, the Senatorindicated that he has removed tattooson people who didn't want them anymore.Therefore, this bill intends toregulate an individual's regret foractions taken previously. Is it thegovernment's responsibility toestablish laws based on the emotionsof the general population?Radford says no."Tattoo artists areproviding a requested sewice, andshould not be charged criminallybecause a customer later regrets his orher actions" he says. Receiving atattoo is a personal, cosmetic choice,not unlike ear piercing, hair styling,liposuction, or breast implants. "If aperson receives a hair cut &nd bates itthree weeks later, we don't arrest thehair stylist" says Radford. "If awoman, after five years, doesn't likethe look of her breast implants, thedoctor who oerformed the surgerv -. isnot arrested" So, a tattoo artist shouldnot be charged with a felony when acustomer later wishes they had notreceived a tattoo.This bill, unlike otherage-restrictive laws, is not respondingto health issues for tattoo customers.Alcohol is restricted to persons overthe age of 21 in part because, before acertain age of human development,alcohol can damage the body. Drugsare illegal because of side effects andsubstances within them that areunhealthy. However, tattooing is safeand does not threaten the medicalhealth of the individual when Health ,Department guidelines are followed."Senator Stewart did not say he isproposing this bill because of healthproblems caused by tattoos" saysRadford. "He only related cases wherehe has removed tattoos that are nolonger wanted"Nor is this proposed legislation aneffort to protect individuals fromharm. Drunk driving laws are in placeto protect other motorists from theintoxicated individual. Drugs arerestricted because they can cause anindividual to harm himself or thosearound him. Having a tattoo, however,does not pose a threat to the safety ofthe customer or anyone else."I can understand laws that addressthe health or safety of the population"says Radford, "but neither issue is aproblem within the tattoo industry, noris either issue the basis for this draftedbill"Without concerns of health or safety,is regulation necessary within a professionthat is demonstrating a sense ofresponsibility and regulating itself?Utah's tanoo studios are professionaland sensitive to age-related issues. Atleast two studios, including SouthernThunder, currently do not tattoominors. Radford has tattooed minors inthe past, but only with parentalconsent. "The parent had to sign therelease form when making the appointmentand be prep1 while their childreceived the tattoo"Artists are aware of the issues pertainingto age and tattoos, some ofwhich are basic common sense. "Iwould never tattoo anyone under theage of 16 simply because they are stillgrowing and that tattoo will change asthey grow" Radford says. With tattooartists already taking such responsibilityfor their work and sening reasonableguidelines, "it's unnecessary toimpose regulation on an industry thatis taking appropriate steps to regulateitself' Radford says.Furthermore, there are laws currentlyin place allowing legal recourse forminors. The parents of a minor mayfile criminal charges under existingchild abuse laws. So. one mightconclude that the child abuse-laws,coupled with the self-imposed policieson the part of Utah's tattoo artists.eliminate the need for SenatorStewart's drafted bill.According to Radford, theSenator indicated he is concernedbecause tattoos are permanent. "Everyone of my customers, whether 17 or70 years old, is aware of this" Radfordsays. The fact that tattoos arepermanent is not an industry secret."However, I will argue that people arefree to make a number of other choicesthat are just as permanentA teenage girl can choose to havesex. and face very penyentconsequences if she gets pregnant."How many 16 and 17-year-old kidsare 'permanently' killed each year onbullet bikes, but we don't arrest themotorcycle salesman,and charge himwith a felony" says Radford. "You canget married at age 16, but we don'tarrest the person who performed themarriage ceremony should the couplechange their mind later and file fordivorce"Radford delves deeper, illuminatingthe threat posed by the first lawrestricting personal choice. "Look atwhat has happened to Utah tobaccolaws," he says. Smoking regulationshave become increasingly restrictive,as recently as the 1995 LegislativeSession. "It starts with one law" saysRadford. "Once the first law isestablished, it is much easier to createmore laws, slowly chipping away at anentire industry"Such long term erosion could nowbe facing the tattoo profession. "If thisball gets rolling with the Legislature,they could eventually eliminate ourability to receive tattoos and expressourselves in a manner we feel is attractiveand demonstrates our individuality"says Radford. This bill is imposinga moral judgment, taking away thefreedom for individuals to choose howto adorn themselves.And it may not stop with the tattooindustry. "Next there will be laws regulatingwhat color you can dye yourhair, what styles of clothes you canwear, further eliminating our freedomto choose how we want to look"Radford says. "With all the health andsafety issues facing society today;medical care, rampant violent crime,an overloaded justice system, andovercrowded prisons, it's unrealisticand misguided for government toassume the responsibility of regulatingbow people choose to adorn themselves"The readers of SLUG, who havealways been leaders in the area of personalstyle and expression, are aboutto have their liberties violated andtheir freedom restricted - again.Radford urges SLUG readers to lookat the issues discussed in this articleand recognize that the nature of thisbill is a moral one; an individual'sdecisions about his or her appearanceare not the responsibility of the governmentor the tattoo artist."We need to react to this situationand inform our legislators that weoppose this bill and the regulation ofthe tattoo industry, starting withSenator Stewart" Radford urges. Thenames, addresses, and phone numbersof Utah representatives are publicdomain:Senator Charles H. Stewart447 West 4 150 Northhovo, Utah 84606Home: 22 1-0748Office: 375-4100"I encourage SLUG readers to startcalling Senator Stewart and their localrepresentatives,i says Radford. 11intend to continue fighting this b,ill,contacting every state official as thisprogresses towards the floor of theLegislature." Information for contactingall state representatives is availableby calling Southern Thunder Tattoos at485-8282."Senator Stewart indicated to methat he wishes to send a message to thetattoo profession," Radford says."With the current problems we're facingbecause of an oversized government,I believe the Senator's effortswould be bener directed at placingresponsibility for these personal issuesback onto the individual. their family,and their personalenvironment."-Andrea PackerED: As well wrillcn as thisarticle is, I have one more thing tosay. I have NO tatioos. Not yet atleast, and Mic probabb believes Inever will. Not important. What isimportant, is that this has little to dowith the ad of tattooing, and much todo about choice. Your choice. Don'tbe fooM The price oj'apaihy ismuch too high. uyou don't openyour mouth, who will open it for you?