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Bill legalizing tattoos headed to House COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Legislators who support a bill legalizing tattooing in South Carolina are increasingly optimistic it might become law after it passed a House committee Tuesday. The bill passed the Senate earlier this year, and the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee added two amendments before passing it 11-4. Committee chairman Joe E. Brown said the bill could come up for debate in the House as early as Thursday, but more likely next week. The bill was met with some opposition. Rep. Mac Toole introduced an amendment to prevent people younger than 18 from getting a tattoo even with parent or guardian consent. "I think most people get them when their young and if most of them would give a second thought about it I think the vast majority would not do it," said Toole, R-West Columbia. His amendment passed but he still voted against the bill. "Several of the members that voted for it (the bill) told me they were really not in favor of tattoos either but that they had been dealing with it for 10 years," Toole said. "I think sometimes younger people are tempted to do things that they wouldn't normally do if they were at the beach or something like that." Toole and other legislators tried to block the bill without success. Brown was hopeful the bill would get through the House and the Senate would approve the amendments. "I don't expect a big fight on the House floor," said Brown, D-Columbia. The other amendment prevents tattooists from reusing sterilized needles. Gov. Mark Sanford's spokesman Will Folks said the governor is not opposed to tattooing, and Sanford's main concern is making sure safeguards are in place to protect public health.
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