(Columbia) Jan. 14, 2004 - Tattooing is more than a
business for Ron White, it's an artform, "Tattooing is
absolutely the most exciting form of expression that you
could ever imagine."
The Florence man has been tattooing people in South
Carolina for 13 years. The state says his profession is
illegal, so, when he creates images on skin, he's
breaking the law, "I've been banned from tattooing in
the state, but that doesn't mean that I'm not approached
by some law enforcement officers in the state and judges
as well."
It might soon be legal for White, who is suing
the state in federal court for criminalizing his
profession, to tattoo those officers, judges, or
anyone else. The Senate passed a bill legalizing
tattooing this week.
Lexington Senator Jake Knotts has worked to keep
tattoo parlors out of the state for years, "I'm still
opposed to having tattoo parlors in South Carolina." He
stepped aside this year and let the bill pass, mainly
because he says the businesses need to be regulated, "If
we're going to have tattoo parlors, we've got to ensure,
number one, they're safe."
Knotts added an amendment to a bill that would limit
tattoo artists to that and nothing else. Under the
amendment, they could not sell retail goods or engage in
body piercing and would have to maintain state health
standards.
White says it's about time tattooing became a legal
practice, "Tattooing is part of our culture. It's here
to stay, and South Carolina needs to embrace that
safely." White says he thinks the bill will pass this
year.
Republican Senator Bill Mescher of Pinopolis, the
bill's sponsor says it's necessary, because it will make
tattooing safer in South Carolina. He also says illegal
tattooing has posed untold health risks in the state.
The bill now goes to the House, where Mescher's four
previous bills to legalize tattoo parlors have been
rejected. The bill still must pass there and get the
governor's signature before it becomes law.
Like many other states across the country, South
Carolina passed a law in the 1960s to outlaw tattooing.
Only Oklahoma and South Carolina continue the ban. Many
residents travel to neighboring states to get their
bodies decorated.
By Catherine
Reynolds
Updated 10:34pm by BrettWitt with
AP
