Tatooing to become legal in Oklahoma

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:38 am

This is interesting, as I never knew there was anyplace where it was NOT legal!!

Tattooing to become legal in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY - The law legalizing tattooing in Oklahoma goes into effect Wednesday and the state Department of Health has been busy fielding questions from people who want to get licenses to practice the ancient art.

Oklahoma was the last state to legalize tattooing.

Tressa Madden, director of consumer protection at the state Department of Health, said her office has been swamped with inquiries about the licensing process.

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

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

The health department hired an additional public-health specialist, and now has four people to help regulate the tattooing.

Requirements for a license include professional experience in tattooing or completion of an approved apprentice program. There is also a standardized test and requirements for certificates in CPR, first-aid and in dealing with bloodborne pathogens.

A surety bond of $100,000 is also required, along with an initial licensing fee of $1,000 and a $500 charge for annual renewal.

"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," said Brandon Mull, 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.

"It's just going to make it all around safer for the public."

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.

State Rep. Al Lindley, D-Oklahoma City, introduced legislation to legalize tattooing.

"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."

State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow, 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 CEOs do not wish to have people working on their front lines who are overtly calling attention to themselves."

George Stratton, owner of Cutting Edge Tattoo in Arkansas City, Kan., 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, but he predicted that many tattoo artists in Oklahoma won't have the experience or the money to meet state licensing requirements.

He said that if his business got bad:

"I'll move to Oklahoma and still have a jump ahead."

___

Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:59 pm

My friend Okie took his grandson into Texas, I think, to get him a tattoo. I thought it was strange at the time in a State where you can get heck pretty much anything.. but not a tattoo.

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:01 pm

I'm surprised, too.

But isn't it true that in some states, oral sex and anal sex are not legal?

Granted, no one is ever going to be prosecuted for either one, but I thought that these laws are still on the books in some states . . .

:-6

Carl44 · Post by **Carl44** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:02 pm

cherandbuster;445332 wrote: I'm surprised, too.

But isn't it true that in some states, oral sex and anal sex are not legal?

Granted, no one is ever going to be prosecuted for either one, but I thought that these laws are still on the books in some states . . .

:-6

on there own or at the same time:(

Carl44 · Post by **Carl44** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:03 pm

whats oral anal sex called

kissing arse i spoze:wah:

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:07 pm

jimbo;445333 wrote: on there own or at the same time:(

That's too funny!

Carl44 · Post by **Carl44** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:44 pm

Pinky;445434 wrote: Just what I was about to say, haha!

return of the pink pun ther :wah: :wah:

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:03 pm

cherandbuster;445332 wrote: I'm surprised, too.

But isn't it true that in some states, oral sex and anal sex are not legal?

Granted, no one is ever going to be prosecuted for either one, but I thought that these laws are still on the books in some states . . .

:-6

Yes..the sodomy laws. A supposed deterrent to homosexual "deviants". It was the closest states could come to outright banning homosexual relationships.

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:12 pm

Pinky;445458 wrote: How is anyone going to know?

You are right..the bedroom police?

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:25 pm

Pinky;445473 wrote: Haha!!! Do they coming storming in through the window with their weapons out and loaded?:yh_giggle

Sorry

Wonder if they use protection on those weapons?

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:31 pm

Pinky;445490 wrote: Lets hope so eh? You never know when those things might go off

:wah:

Wonder if they fire at close range :-3

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:44 pm

Wait..did I just hijack my own thread??

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:49 pm

Going back on track....here is an article about a prison inmate charged with assaulting a fellow inmate..by forcibly tatooing the victims name on his forhead.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/ ... ME_2137110

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:59 am

Marie5656;445457 wrote: Yes..the sodomy laws. A supposed deterrent to homosexual "deviants". It was the closest states could come to outright banning homosexual relationships.

But why is oral sex considered homosexual activity? :-3

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:34 am

cherandbuster;445765 wrote: But why is oral sex considered homosexual activity? :-3

OK, how do I word this without being censored. I think any sexual activity that does not include ummm..inserting part A into part B is considered deviant.

I could be wrong, though. I think sodomy laws are also used when there is a minor involved, also.