Tattooing Age In Illinois

**THL** · 11 Aug 05,, 03:08

http://www.chicagotribune.com/servic...login.register

Governor kills measure that would allow teens to get tattoos

The Associated Press

August 10, 2005, 5:35 PM CDT

Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday killed legislation that would have allowed people younger than 21 to get tattoos.

Blagojevich used amendatory veto power to change a bill that lowered the age to 18. He OK'd other parts of the bill that stiffened penalties for people caught tattooing or doing body piercing on people under 21.

``I don't want my daughters to rush to get tattoos on their 18th birthdays,'' Blagojevich said in a prepared statement. ``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 veto could be reversed this fall if the General Assembly votes to override Blagojevich's action. The bill passed both houses with large enough majorities to reach the three-fifths majority vote required for a veto override.

The other parts of the measure that were approved by Blagojevich include tougher penalties for people who tattoo teens or offer them body piercing. The tougher penalty -- up to $1,000 fine and 364 days in jail -- also applies to allowing anyone younger than 18 to be on the premises of a business that conducts tattooing and body piercing without being accompanied by a parent or guardian.

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The bill is HB29. On the Net: http://www.ilga.gov
Copyright © 2005, The Associated Press

At the age of 18, a person can enlist in the military, get married (in fact this age may be less than 18), buy cigarettes, be charged as an adult for committing a crime (this age is actually lower in a lot of cases as well) as well as a number of other "adult" actvities. So why not a tattoo? I think it is absurd that a 20 year old person here in Illinois has to have their parent with them when they go to get a tattoo.

**~~giggs88~~** · 11 Aug 05,, 03:54

That guy is a loser. Sounds like he doesn't want his purdy little daughters to get it or something.

I hope it's not like this in PA. I'm only 17. I can't possibly wait for another 4 years if it's 21.

**Leader** · 11 Aug 05,, 03:56

Nanny government.

**TopHatter** · 11 Aug 05,, 04:02

Hey, if an 18-year old wants to get a tattoo and then has to regret getting it and pony up the grand or so to have to have it removed, that's their business.
The government needs to stay out of stuff like this. 18-years are adults!
(Though I completely support the 21 year old drinking law)

**THL** · 11 Aug 05,, 04:10

Originally Posted by giggs88

That guy is a loser. Sounds like he doesn't want his purdy little daughters to get it or something.

I hope it's not like this in PA. I'm only 17. I can't possibly wait for another 4 years if it's 21.

Okay, I am not trying to say that the govenor is a "loser" - I voted for him and I support him - I am only saying that I completely disagree with him on this topic.

There is a sign in the office of the gentleman who did my last tattoo, and it read:

"The difference between tattooed people and non-tattooed people is that tattooed people don't care if you are not tattooed." From my experience - This is very true.

**Shek** · 11 Aug 05,, 04:28

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

At the age of 18, a person can enlist in the military, get married (in fact this age may be less than 18), buy cigarettes, be charged as an adult for committing a crime (this age is actually lower in a lot of cases as well) as well as a number of other "adult" actvities. So why not a tattoo? I think it is absurd that a 20 year old person here in Illinois has to have their parent with them when they go to get a tattoo.

The answer's simple. Join the military, get shipped to Fort Benning, GA, and get your tattoo on Victory Drive. Chances are, you'll have a cooler tattoo that way, anyways, and it will be cheaper. If you outgrow the tattoo while you're still in, you have a chance at getting it removed for free. There's never problems, only solutions

**~~giggs88~~** · 11 Aug 05,, 04:38

Originally Posted by shek

The answer's simple. Join the military, get shipped to Fort Benning, GA, and get your tattoo on Victory Drive.

That is what I'll be doing. Only, it will be P. Island.

**sparten** · 11 Aug 05,, 08:22

I have a tattoo of a falcon on by left arm and I love it. I am only 20 (17 when I got it).

As for regrets, at the time I got it, a friend went with me to the palour, we had just done "Sound of Music" on stage, and he got a Nazi Swatsika on his left arm. He hates it, his Dad is now posted to our embassy in Germany and he has a big problem everytime he goes to visit his parents.

**THL** · 11 Aug 05,, 13:08

Originally Posted by sparten

I have a tattoo of a falcon on by left arm and I love it. I am only 20 (17 when I got it).

As for regrets, at the time I got it, a friend went with me to the palour, we had just done "Sound of Music" on stage, and he got a Nazi Swatsika on his left arm. He hates it, his Dad is now posted to our embassy in Germany and he has a big problem everytime he goes to visit his parents.

I assume it is a straight black swastika - how hard can that be to cover up?

My first was done by hand (I was not known for thinking things through when I was a kid) in a friends living room 14 years ago when I was only 15 - That has long since been covered up. I have no regrets on mine. Maybe I would put them in different places if I could go back now, but I am far from actually regretting them. Contrary to popular belief (and I may be in the minority on this) I have not found that having tattoos out in the open where they can be seen by all has inhibited my life at all, career wise, anyway - I still have a great job with a wonderful company that I know will be around long enough for me to retire from in another 35 years or so (ouch, 35 years, that hurt).

**Bill** · 11 Aug 05,, 13:20

"The answer's simple. Join the military, get shipped to Fort Benning, GA, and get your tattoo on Victory Drive. Chances are, you'll have a cooler tattoo that way, anyways, and it will be cheaper. If you outgrow the tattoo while you're still in, you have a chance at getting it removed for free. There's never problems, only solutions"

Heh, got mine at Fast Freddies in Columbus.

**TopHatter** · 11 Aug 05,, 14:02

I havent given up on my idea for my beloved THL's next tat.
Maybe something a little less complex than my last idea....

**Shek** · 11 Aug 05,, 14:23

Originally Posted by M21Sniper

"The answer's simple. Join the military, get shipped to Fort Benning, GA, and get your tattoo on Victory Drive. Chances are, you'll have a cooler tattoo that way, anyways, and it will be cheaper. If you outgrow the tattoo while you're still in, you have a chance at getting it removed for free. There's never problems, only solutions"

Heh, got mine at Fast Freddies in Columbus.

No ink for me. Also, VD has actually been cleaned up a little. Traffic Light was shut down for a while, Chicksaws went out of business permanently after getting busted for selling liquor to minors twice (what a surprise!). There's a Rite Aid there now. Also, the FEBA has moved in Columbus. Downtime has been cleaned up, but the old Exit 4 (I think it's exit 6 now) now defines the FEBA, and the mall that was there had about a 25% occupancy rate and was being shut down. The old exit 7 (now 10) is booming, with lots of shopping plazas and business going in there. That was in 2000. I'm sure that it's changed even more since then.

**Lunatock** · 11 Aug 05,, 18:20

Originally Posted by giggs88

That guy is a loser. Sounds like he doesn't want his purdy little daughters to get it or something.

I hope it's not like this in PA. I'm only 17. I can't possibly wait for another 4 years if it's 21.

I think that 18 is the age you can legally get a tattoo in Pennsylvania.

**Lunatock** · 11 Aug 05,, 18:23

Originally Posted by M21Sniper

"The answer's simple. Join the military, get shipped to Fort Benning, GA, and get your tattoo on Victory Drive. Chances are, you'll have a cooler tattoo that way, anyways, and it will be cheaper. If you outgrow the tattoo while you're still in, you have a chance at getting it removed for free. There's never problems, only solutions"

Heh, got mine at Fast Freddies in Columbus.

Got my first one at Skip's Tattoo in downtown Lancaster, got my second and planned a third at Transcending Flesh. TF was even kind enough to do a touchup on the first tat for ten dollars...after the first place did a shitty job on it, and kept making up excuses to not finish it as advertised after only about 2/3 of it took.

**THL** · 11 Aug 05,, 18:39

Originally Posted by Lunatock

Got my first one at Skip's Tattoo in downtown Lancaster, got my second and planned a third at Transcending Flesh. TF was even kind enough to do a touchup on the first tat for ten dollars...after the first place did a shitty job on it, and kept making up excuses to not finish it as advertised after only about 2/3 of it took.

I can't believe they would not even correct their own work. I have not had to have any of mine touched up yet. My cover up was done about 12 years ago and I was told I may have had to had that one touched up as it was bright colors over black, but it is ok so far. The one I just had done is on the top of my foot (much to TopHats dismay) and I will probably have to have that one touched up eventually from walking and my ankle bending.