Up & Coming Weekly

Margaret Dickson, State Representative and Contributing Writer COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or call 919-733-5776 or email MARGARETD@NCLEG.NET I told myself I would not do this. I told my walking buddy and column consultant I would not do this. But here I am writing about tattoos again. I admit that I am still baffl ed by the inks of many colors that I now see all over bodies, young and old, attractive and otherwise. I imagine I will depart this world still not understanding that. But this column is not about why people get tattoos. It is about how they get them. As a member of the N.C. General Assembly, I receive many emails from all over the state and beyond on topics we might expect, like healthcare reform, and on topics which surprise me. I am going to quote one of the latter in an edited version, because it did surprise me and because the writer is clearly trying to help. Here we go in his words: "Dear Members of the House and Senate, My name is ____ and I own and operate ____House of Tattoos in ____, NC. I have been state licensed in the state since August of 1995. We have a growing problem in our industry with people tattooing without a permit. It has gradually gotten worse and worse as each day passes. Even if you don't like what I do, I do it legally, I always have. We have got people tattooing out of bedrooms, kitchens, storage buildings with no permits or inspections. There are laws in place for this but our county inspectors are pretty much powerless to stop it….In order for them to do anything to these people: A. Someone has to report them. B. The county inspector has to send them a letter telling them to cease. C. They then have to be caught in the act and a witness has to testify in court. D. Even if they are prosecuted it's just a misdemeanor crime, and they can go right back at it again. What is the point of having these laws when me and 300 or so permitted tattoo studios have to go through inspections, when you can get online and fi nd all kinds of unlicensed so-called tattoo artists promoting themselves with pictures of their tattoos and in many cases pictures of them working on people….There are serious health risks involved such as: HIV, Hepatitis, Staph, Mercer, etc., (all of which can be fatal). Not to mention the terrible work most of these people are doing because they have no training in the business. Which makes the whole industry look bad. The main problem is tattoo supply companies. Not all, but a lot of them will sell tattoo equipment to anyone with the money to buy it. You can go to…and order a so called starter kit base priced around $100. No sterilization equipment included, no instructions and about four or five tattoo needles. A 12-year-old kid, for example, can call these places and have it on their doorstep the next day…. What if I were to order dental or surgical tools and try to pull teeth or do surgery on someone?...Would I even be able to buy these tools? Would I be able to purchase an X-ray machine for my home and use it as long as I don't get caught?...Why don't the same rules apply in this situation? I know it's quite a stretch from tattooing, but in that example I could end up killing someone or passing along some sort of terrible disease…. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY ON THIS ISSUE! PLEASE HELP US! Most sincerely, _______ It is rare for a business person of any sort to ask for more state regulation, but that is exactly what this writer wants for the safety of the people he does business with, or in this case, on. All members of the general assembly received this email, so we will see what, if any, legislation may come from it in the next session. Many years ago, when I was about 14-years-old, I announced to my startled parents that I was planning to have my ears pierced, a sort of fashion statement that was just taking off among young women. Today, of course, this is not a big deal at all, but in small town Fayetteville at that time, it was a bit shocking, at least to my parents. Betsy, a childhood friend, was our self-anointed ear-piercer, a practice she conducted in her frilly pink bedroom involving a large hat pin and ice cubes from the family fridge. My parents were wise enough not to pick a fi ght with a teenager on a mission, but they did insist that my ears be pierced not by Betsy but by my late grandfather's medical partner in his offi ce with lots of sterilization and no hat pins in sight. My parents never understood why I wanted pierced ears, and I will likely never understand why people want to ink their skins. If you do, though, please do it cleanly, safely and legally — for yourself and for those who love you. Scary Ink by MARGARET DICKSON THIS WEEK WITH MARGARET THIS WEEK WITH MARGARET SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 6, 2009 UCW 5

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