Tattoos not too taboo for teens

By: The editorial board

Posted: 8/30/05

An 18-year-old can be drafted, vote and declare themselves as independent from his or her parents, but in Illinois, an 18-year-old cannot get a tattoo.

Last week, Gov. Rod Blagojevich vetoed a bill that would have lowered the legal age a person must be to receive a tattoo in Illinois from 21 to 18. His reasoning, according to a press release from the governor's office: "At that age most kids are still in high school and don't have the judgment or perspective to decide on something as permanent as tattooing your skin."

The governor doesn't think people that young have the judgment or perspective to decide what happens to their own bodies. Yet those same young people can make the decision to fight in a war for the rest of the country and make decisions that affect others by using their right to vote. Shouldn't someone who is obligated to other people be trusted to make decisions for themselves?

The governor obviously has some flaws in his thinking.

Illinois remains one of two states that require people to be 21 years old to get a tattoo. Not only is the age limit unreasonable, but this stricter law hurts Illinois tattoo businesses. In Friday's edition of The Daily Eastern News, Adele Rodgers, who owns a tattoo and piercing business in Terre Haute, Ind., said 10 to 20 percent of his business comes from Illinois residents. That money spent by those people would be spent in our state if it were legal.

If young people want tattoos, there are ways for them to work around the Illinois law. This isn't exactly the easiest law to enforce because there will always be underage people who wish to get a tattoo, and will at least make an attempt.

Friday's article also mentioned there are no additional health concerns for people between the ages of 18 and 21, which leaves no logical grounds for keeping the age so high.

The legislature was right in reviewing and trying to update Illinois' older law regarding tattoos.

The doubted maturity of young adults is the only reason the governor could provide in vetoing the bill. That and his response, "As a parent, I don't want my daughters to rush to get tattoos on their 18th birthdays."

These are not good enough reasons to take away rights people that age should have. Especially for a topic such as a tattoo which does not have nearly the same implications as voting or fighting in a war.