Tattooing in Oklahoma becomes legal

Some say it's an art. Others say it's a sin. But nobody can say tattooing is illegal in Oklahoma after Wednesday, when the state becomes the very last to permit it.

The moral tangle is over. The win goes to lawmakers who argued that tattooing is inevitable, so it may as well be regulated for safety.

The win is also claimed by the state's tattoo artists, who can now ink most anyone 18 and older without fear of handcuffs and fines.

The law that passed after much foot-dragging has earned praise and criticism, but either way, it has an effect.

Brandon Mull, tattoo artist at Electric Eye Tattoo Mysterium and longtime advocate to legalize tattooing

The law?

"It's a dream come true. A dream come true," he said while tattooing "Alice in Wonderland" characters on the arm of a customer.

Mull started in 1997 asking the state Legislature to legalize the work he's done for 12 years.

He was arrested in 2003 for tattooing. He said he was filling out the paperwork for licensing and hopes to be approved by Wednesday to take the test.

"The laws make it a little more difficult for the average
Joe to pick up a tattoo machine and say he knows what he's doing," Mull said.

Mull is a member of Oklahoma Tattooing and Piercing Association and the Oklahoma Body Art Coalition, both of which fought to change the state's tattoo laws.

He's not going to do anything special when the law takes affect on Wednesday.

"I'm just going to go in there and do what I've been doing for years," Mull said. "It's not going to change how I do things. It's just going to make it all around safer for the public."

State Rep. Al Lindley, D-Oklahoma City

Lindley introduced a house bill a few years back to legalize and regulate tattooing, a fight he started some time ago.

"I'm relieved," Lindley said. "I was really surprised at the resistance, and it's a big relief now that my colleagues have seen the light and seen that the public had gotten sick and tired of seeing legislators dancing around this issue."

"Not a dime of taxpayers' money" will pay for inspecting and licensing tattoo establishments, he said. Fees paid by the artists and the business owners involved will cover it.

Lindley said he's confident the law will meet its aim to ensure that tattoo artists are trained in technique and safety measures and that tattoo parlors are sterile.

"Tattooing should be as safe as the hamburgers we eat," he said.

Lindley said he doesn't have a tattoo and doesn't plan on getting one.

State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow

Wright thinks legal tattooing will hurt the state's economy because employers are less likely to hire a job applicant who's tattooed.

"Our society as a whole still does not view tattoos in a favorable light," he said. "Many [ 4] CEOs do not wish to have people working on their front lines who are overtly calling attention to themselves. Because of that, it (the legalization of tattooing) is somewhat going to have a diminishing effect on economic opportunities."

Wright wouldn't say what he thinks of people with tattoos.

"I'm not employing anybody currently, and my opinion as an individual is my opinion," he said.

George Stratton, owner of Cutting Edge Tattoo in Arkansas City, Kan.

Stratton said about 30 percent of his customers are Oklahomans who cross the state border for a legal tattoo. He knows a portion of that business will slough off after Wednesday.

He isn't too worried. Stratton thinks the scene won't change much because he said many tattoo artists in Oklahoma won't have the experience or the money to meet state licensing requirements.

If business does get bad, he said "I'll move to Oklahoma and still have a jump ahead."

Tressa Madden, director of consumer protection at the state Department of Health

"Build the rules, and they will come," said Madden, who's department is in charge of licensing tattoo artists and tattoo establishments.

She said the state began last month to accept applications and fees for licenses from tattoo artists and business owners.

As of late last week, she said one person was licensed under the law to tattoo. Several just had to take the test.

Madden said her office is swamped.

"I try to return phone calls as fast as I can," she said. "We're just being busy, and we're working as hard as we can."

The health department hired an additional public-health specialist, which makes four people to help regulate the tattooing.

'Bout Time, Providing a safe alternative to guys working out of thier cars is only prudent.

Good ole Oklahoma, last in just about everything.

"Tattooing should be as safe as the hamburgers we eat"


Moo..

State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow Wright thinks legal tattooing will hurt the state's economy because employers are less likely to hire a job applicant who's tattooed.

Thanks for protecting us from ourselves....


(fwiw, I think tats are dirtbaggy )

Quoted: 'Bout Time, Providing a safe alternative to guys working out of thier cars is only prudent.

I think I would drive that car across state lines before going that route.

Quoted: "Our society as a whole still does not view tattoos in a favorable light," he said. "Many [ 4] CEOs do not wish to have people working on their front lines who are overtly calling attention to themselves. Because of that, it (the legalization of tattooing) is somewhat going to have a diminishing effect on economic opportunities."

Here's a crazy idea. Get a decent job. You know, the kind where you don't wear short sleeves to the interview.

Seriously, what kind of employment would you be looking for, where you can wear short sleeves to the interview and expect to get hired, but you still have an employer that cares what you look like?

Quoted: State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow Wright thinks legal tattooing will hurt the state's economy because employers are less likely to hire a job applicant who's tattooed. Thanks for protecting us from ourselves.... (fwiw, I think tats are dirtbaggy )

I know a couple of guys with this tattoo who would make you eat those words (literally)

Quoted: Quoted: State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow Wright thinks legal tattooing will hurt the state's economy because employers are less likely to hire a job applicant who's tattooed. Thanks for protecting us from ourselves.... (fwiw, I think tats are dirtbaggy ) I know a couple of guys with this tattoo who would make you eat those words (literally) www.sealchallenge.navy.mil/seal/images/05header.jpg

You just proved his point.  Only a dirt bag would beat up someone for their OPINION regarding tattoos

As a matter of history, the law came into being about a century ago when some traveling carnival with an itinerant tattoo "artist" went through parts of the state, and a lot of little kids wound up with tattoos of animals and cartoon characters on them... which didn't wash off.

Good to see the morality police are losing their power step by step.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow Wright thinks legal tattooing will hurt the state's economy because employers are less likely to hire a job applicant who's tattooed. Thanks for protecting us from ourselves.... (fwiw, I think tats are dirtbaggy ) I know a couple of guys with this tattoo who would make you eat those words (literally) www.sealchallenge.navy.mil/seal/images/05header.jpg You just proved his point.  Only a dirt bag would beat up someone for their OPINION regarding tattoos

Bullshit, you call a Navy SEAL a dirtbag and you deserve the ass whipping you get.

If you called me a dirt bag face to face we would be having a problem too.


I love these clowns who think the 1st Amendment gives them the right to insult others.


Expressing your opinion is one thing, insulting someone is totally different.
But we both know you wouldn't have the balls to call a Navy SEAL a dirtbag to his face anyway.

Quoted: Quoted: State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow Wright thinks legal tattooing will hurt the state's economy because employers are less likely to hire a job applicant who's tattooed. Thanks for protecting us from ourselves.... (fwiw, I think tats are dirtbaggy ) I know a couple of guys with this tattoo who would make you eat those words (literally) www.navyseals.com/community/media/trident_gold.jpg

literally?

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow Wright thinks legal tattooing will hurt the state's economy because employers are less likely to hire a job applicant who's tattooed. Thanks for protecting us from ourselves.... (fwiw, I think tats are dirtbaggy ) I know a couple of guys with this tattoo who would make you eat those words (literally) www.navyseals.com/community/media/trident_gold.jpg literally?

yep, he would print it and make you eat it LOL

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow Wright thinks legal tattooing will hurt the state's economy because employers are less likely to hire a job applicant who's tattooed. Thanks for protecting us from ourselves.... (fwiw, I think tats are dirtbaggy ) I know a couple of guys with this tattoo who would make you eat those words (literally) www.navyseals.com/community/media/trident_gold.jpg literally?

You'd be surprised.

I saw a Master Sergeant make a kid eat a Navy Cross ribbon and a page out of his SRB once.

Never get a tattoo where the judge can see it.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow Wright thinks legal tattooing will hurt the state's economy because employers are less likely to hire a job applicant who's tattooed. Thanks for protecting us from ourselves.... (fwiw, I think tats are dirtbaggy ) I know a couple of guys with this tattoo who would make you eat those words (literally) www.navyseals.com/community/media/trident_gold.jpg literally? yep, he would print it and make you eat it LOL

I suspect they wouldn't be nearly as worked up as you are.

try decaf.

and you know nobody thinks military-related tats are dirtbaggy.

Quoted: "Tattooing should be as safe as the hamburgers we eat" Moo.. i11.tinypic.com/2zgrd6s.jpg

Nasty, just nasty.

Well the tooth to tattoo ratio will come back into balance now.

Quoted: Good to see the morality police are losing their power step by step.

Hopefully they'll soon legalize theft since the Bible says that theft is immoral.

Quoted: Quoted: Good to see the morality police are losing their power step by step. Hopefully they'll soon legalize theft since the Bible says that theft is immoral.

Great analogy.  When getting a tattoo on your arm deprives someone else of their liberty, let me know.

Guess I'm a dirt bag. Oh well I've been called worse by better!

So these people think getting a tattoo will send you to hell?  I don't think so.
<------- Christian

SEALs have too much dicipline, they wouldnt fly off the handle over a few words

Quoted: SEALs have too much dicipline, they wouldnt fly off the handle over a few words

Are you serious?

The Oklahoman White Trash Dream:

Males: Head to Texas, open a tattoo parlor

Females: Head to Texas, become a stripper

Quoted: SEALs have too much dicipline, they wouldnt fly off the handle over a few words

I saw 2 SEALs dismantle a bar in Kenosha Wisconsin over a lot less.

Quoted: Quoted: SEALs have too much dicipline, they wouldnt fly off the handle over a few words I saw 2 SEALs dismantle a bar in Kenosha Wisconsin over a lot less.

over what?

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow Wright thinks legal tattooing will hurt the state's economy because employers are less likely to hire a job applicant who's tattooed. Thanks for protecting us from ourselves.... (fwiw, I think tats are dirtbaggy ) I know a couple of guys with this tattoo who would make you eat those words (literally) www.sealchallenge.navy.mil/seal/images/05header.jpg You just proved his point.  Only a dirt bag would beat up someone for their OPINION regarding tattoos Bullshit, you call a Navy SEAL a dirtbag and you deserve the ass whipping you get. If you called me a dirt bag face to face we would be having a problem too. I love these clowns who think the 1st Amendment gives them the right to insult others. Expressing your opinion is one thing, insulting someone is totally different. But we both know you wouldn't have the balls to call a Navy SEAL a dirtbag to his face anyway.

Since I am 6'3" and 200 lbs, I can say this, you have no idea how big fightforyourrights is..... I do.
I got a t shirt from him that can fit 4 of me inside.,,, again I am 6'3" just over 200 lbs.

Just a FWIW lol.

ETA: Hey you're both in PA.... lemme know how it turns out.

 so being fat makes you tough. Its all so clear now.

Quoted:  so being fat makes you tough. Its all so clear now.

It was a joke of sorts.
Lighten up Francis.

I'll probably never get one, but making it illegal is stupid

Quoted: I'll probably never get one, but making it illegal is stupid

Oklahoma.... tattoos were illegal but cock fighting still ok......

Quoted: Quoted: I'll probably never get one, but making it illegal is stupid Oklahoma.... tattoos were illegal but cock fighting still ok......

No it is not, that was deemed illegal a few years ago. It was put to a vote in a general election, the fine people in OKC and Tulsa out voted the rural people, as usual.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I'll probably never get one, but making it illegal is stupid Oklahoma.... tattoos were illegal but cock fighting still ok...... No it is not, that was deemed illegal a few years ago. It was put to a vote in a general election, the fine people in OKC and Tulsa out voted the rural people, as usual.

Oh ok lemme edit.....


Oklahoma...moving into the 19th century by allowing tattoos and recently banning cock fighting.



Hey I'm from TX we got our stuff too.

Quoted: Quoted: SEALs have too much dicipline, they wouldnt fly off the handle over a few words I saw 2 SEALs dismantle a bar in Kenosha Wisconsin over a lot less.

disgraceful.

but I still can't walk into a store and purchase regular beer (i.e., not 3.2) that is cold nor can I purchase wine, liquor or regular beer from a store on Sundays.