Posted on 02/04/2005 11:52:25 PM PST by TheOtherOne
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Rebellious teenagers may soon have another reason to curse the establishment now that a lawmaker wants to add Washington to the list of states that require parental permission before minors can pierce a body part.
Some professional piercers have taken advantage of loose regulations in more than a dozen states that let youngsters come home with a tongue stud, navel ring or pierced eyebrow without approval from Mom or Dad.
"We have teens coming in here who have issues, their piercings are all infected," said Jacob Willardsen, the main piercer at House of Tattoo in Tacoma. "They're getting it done at another shop or doing it themselves - either way, it's happening."
State Sen. Pam Roach wants to make sure it doesn't happen anymore.
A proposed law would make it a misdemeanor to pierce minors unless their parents give permission and are present when the piercing occurs. The latter, Roach said, almost guarantees that teens won't be getting pierced in inappropriate places.
"Moms just don't want to see that," Roach said.
The bill doesn't apply to ears.
Several states already regulate body piercing with most requiring some type of parental consent for minors, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The penalties vary by state.
People who illegally pierce minors in Louisiana could face hundreds of dollars in fines and up to a year in prison. In Delaware, rogue piercers can be charged with a misdemeanor and held liable for damages.
The bill's primary purpose in Washington, Roach said, is to protect the young from infections and diseases from unsanitary piercing tools.
Beyond health, Roach added, the law will prevent young people from a pain familiar to any man bearing a tattoo of his ex-girlfriend's name - regret.
"We want to protect young people from decisions that may cause them disfigurement or consternation later in life," Roach said.
She added that teenagers may encounter difficulties finding employers who embrace that eyebrow ring, and piercings can leave scars once the jewelry is removed.
At Metro, a tattoo and body piercing shop in Olympia, Ashley Fagernes wasn't worried about jobs or scars. She recently celebrated her 18th birthday by adding a ring to her lower lip.
"I've always wanted something pierced, but my mom was against it," she said.
Fagernes has no problem with the bill, adding that she didn't try to get pierced until she moved out of her parents' house.
"She would have either kicked me out or made me take it out," Fagernes said.
Most professional body piercers support the bill.
Randolph Slaughter, the piercer at Metro, requires minors to come in with their parents. The teenagers and parents have to show their own IDs, plus a document proving their relationship.
New piercings require scrupulous care to prevent infections, and Slaughter makes sure teenagers and their parents are ready for the responsibility.
"I'll even ask students if they have good grades," Slaughter said. "You have be responsible enough to take care of it."
At Fusion Tattoo in Enumclaw, Erik Warren said piercing minors is frowned upon by most of his colleagues. He usually shoos away teenagers asking about piercings.
"If the parents won't let them, we're not going to encourage it," he said. "Lines of angry parents aren't great publicity."
But Kurtis Kirk, the owner of Seattle's Golden Body Rings, which is known for piercing minors, said the law would hurt his business more than other establishments.
"I really don't think we need a moral piercing police," Kirk said.
A public hearing hasn't been scheduled for the bill, which is in the Senate judiciary committee. Roach, a Republican, said the bill seems to be gathering support from both parties.
Shelley Morin, 19, understands why.
The Olympia resident had her navel pierced at age 14, with her mom's permission. She had also wanted a tattoo of a butterfly, but her mother put her foot down.
"I'm so glad she did," Morin said. "It would have looked stupid."
AP-ES-02-05-05 0224EST
But perfectly legal to perform an abortion without parental consent.
Piercings are so ugly.
Amen to that.
No, this one is much nicer. I like this one better http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1336524/posts?page=19#19
BTW, I asked a girl why she had her lips pierced and she said the pain made her feel alive. I politely asked if she cuts herself. She answered yes. BINGO. IMO, most teens are following a trend started by victims of abuse and the S&M crowd, which is one and the same. It's an obvious manifestation of trauma. "Hey, but we can't judge." -- Adam Carolla and Dr. Drew (Loveline)
YUP.
manifestation of trauma?? many of these kids have been pampered their whole lives. Its much more than trauma, its a perversion.
It's also a way for them to rebel against their parents. My younger sister is big into body piercing & tattoos for one reason, our parents are against it. At 24 she is still trying to "show them" that she will do whatever the heck she wants.
And that's a bad thing? There's a reason "those places" are considered "inappropriate," you idiot.
and those apparently never ever heal. Some day they will throw the tongue ... things.. away and never eat soup the same way again.
They were stupid BEFORE they had their tongues pierce! ;^)
Pierce away in Pierce County!....
Then your younger sister and a lot of people I know have never grown up. Tell her the rebellion is over and she is an adult now and that she should act like it. (or not, cuz we know what the reactions are likely to be)
manifestation of trauma?? many of these kids have been pampered their whole lives. Its much more than trauma, its a perversion.
I guess the one that annoys the most is the belly button piercing because it seems like lately almost every beautiful girl has one. Body piercing, except for the ears, rate in my top three lists of turnoffs.
It is typical of the perverted, immoral way liberals think.
And let's not forget prescribing meds to your kids in school without your consent.
But pierce their ear? Not before the parents are notified.
ONE for each year, not fifteen all up and down the ear... ick
OK, OK.. I give
Ugh... A while ago I read that people are also into *splitting* their tongues too, so it looks forked.
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