Posted: 8/22/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Tessa Pelias Josh Wood, 25, of Champaign completes a design on Justin McCrocklin, 24, of Urbana at Altered Egos Tattoo Shop in Champaign on Sunday.

Gov. Blagojevich's Aug. 10 shoot down of legislation that would allow teenagers to get tattoos at the age of 18 has caused a stir among some local tattoo artists. Posters prominently displaying an image of Uncle Sam and a simple question asking, "Who is taking your rights away?" has recently begun to appear along Green Street.

The veto of the proposed House Bill 0029 keeps the legal age to get a tattoo at 21 years old. Although the governor struck down the provision that would lower the legal age, he does support other parts of the bill. This includes increased penalties for tattooing or body piercing a minor. Violations are now considered a class A misdemeanor rather than a class C misdemeanor. Shop owners and tattoo artists can be charged if anyone younger than 18 is unaccompanied by a legal guardian on the premises.

Employees and customers of at least three tattoo and piercing shops on campus have taken varying degrees of action to oppose the governor's veto of the bill, which many believe will heavily impact the tattooing and piercing industry.

Efforts against the governor's veto have been championed by several local tattoo artists and piercers, including Matt Bavougian, a piercer for New Life Tattoo and Body Piercing, located at 404 E. Green St.

New Life employees drafted and circulated petitions protesting the veto, as well as literature on how people can register to vote and contact their state senator and representative.

"Finances is by no means the only reason we are pushing for this," Bavougian said. "We want to tell people about the House Bill and push them to register."

Jason Dunavan, co-owner, tattoo artist and piercer for Altered Egos Tattoo and Body Piercing at 630 S. Fifth St., supports his competitors efforts, yet is more reserved about the issue.

"I understand why (lawmakers) are doing it, but I don't agree with it," Dunavan said.

Dunavan was among several artists who expressed slight frustration over the continuing repercussions of a higher age for legally receiving a tattoo. He said that he did not believe the existing laws stop minors from getting tattoos.

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