Georgia Mom Arrested for Allowing 10-Year-Old to Get Tattoo

[RZM]

ATLANTA, Ga. -- A Georgia mother who was arrested for allowing her 10-year-old to get a tattoo said she had no idea it was illegal for him to get one, even with her consent.

When Chuntera Napier’s son Gaquan Napier asked her if he could get a memorial tattoo for his 12-year-old brother Malik who died after being hit by a car, Napier was touched by the request.

“My son came to me and said, ‘Mom, I want to get a tattoo with Malik on it, rest in peace,’” she told ABC News’ Atlanta affiliate WSBTV. “It made me feel good to know that he wanted his brother on him.”

When Gaquan Napier was asked why he wanted the tattoo, he said, “Because it represents my brother.”

http://www.wcti12.com/news/30258787/detail.html

Personally, I don't think tattoos belong on anybody under the age of 18, even if the parents are ok with it.

[The Straight Story]

1. His body, his choice? (nt)

[demosincebirth]

4. How about a six year old? "His body, his choice.?"

[RZM]

5. Is that sarcasm?

A 10-year old is not really capable of making great long-term choices. When I was 10, I would have preferred to play video games all day and eat cheese puffs at every meal. Yet instead I had to go to school and eat balanced meals.

If an adult wants to do those things, cool. But a child?

[The Straight Story]

7. So what age for abortions/birth control/condoms/etc?

And should girls be able to get an abortion without parental consent? If so, why not other things based on the same basic principle?

[LanternWaste]

9. I imagine we all agree that an arbitrary number is needed in many cases

I imagine we all agree that an arbitrary number is needed in many cases-- regardless of whether we may disagree on what that number should be, and if that number should be consistent regardless of the context.

Unless of course you believe that a six year old should have the legal authority to drink, smoke and drive..

[RZM]

10. Comparing tattoos and sex doesn't really work.

If you want a tattoo, you go to a parlor and pay an artist to do it. Georgia law states that you must be 18 to patronize such an establishment.

Sex is not regulated like that. You don't have to go to a business and pay somebody. If two kids want to have sex, then they just do it. Since you can't prevent that, the next best thing is to make it as safe as possible.

A better analogy would be with pornography. You do have to be 18 to purchase that, just like you have to be 18 to get a tattoo.

[AtomicKitten]

2. There's that intrusive big government that the GOP loves.

[Politicalboi]

3. I see nothing wrong with this

It's not a naked lady, it represents his dead brother.

[RZM]

6. I don't think the issue is what exactly was put on his body

I think the issue is that it was put there at all.

[Politicalboi]

14. I realize that

If the kid wants that to remember his brother, why not? And to arrest the mother over this is ridiculous. Maybe his mom wouldn't have allowed a naked lady, and would have told him he's too young. But for his dead brother I can see allowing this. What I mean, it's not like the kid wanted a tattoo just to have one.

[RZM]

18. I don't think assessing each tattoo on a case by case basis is feasible

Tattoos can be of anything. Rather than decide which are ok for a 10 year old and which aren't, I think it's best to just have a minimum age and leave it at that.

Imagine a scenario where the parent was pressuring the child to get a tattoo. 'You're getting your brother on your arm and that's that!' Some children might not be inclined to reveal that they were pressured.

Why deal with all of that when we can just say you have to be 18, no exceptions.

[Blue_Tires]

21. Where I'm from most people use t-shirts

or car decals or something...

The biggest shock is that mom agreeing to go along with this instead of giving her son like 10 million alternative tributes which would indicate she'd have one functioning brain cell.

[joeybee12]

8. One, I, too, would not have thought it a crime, but two,

Wouldn't you tell your kid maybe he could remember his brother a different way...he is only 10 and your judgment SHOULD be better.

[RZM]

12. That's what I would have said

Have a t-shirt made or something like that. And explain to the child that he's not old enough to have a tattoo yet. If he decides he wants one when he's 18, then he's free to make that choice then.

[joeybee12]

31. Exactly...nt

[Ms. Toad]

11. Really mixed feelings...

Tattoos are permanent - and depending on where they are, and career path, they can impact things like the ability to get a job. (Right or wrong, people with tattoos are not a protected class and in most states, you could be fired or not hired merely for having a tattoo - and a whole lot of other things that are completely unrelated to performance.)

Parents ought to have enough sense to make wise decisions for their children, but don't always. There are certain things with lifelong impact that parents cannot assign away on behalf of their children (some privacy rights and personal injury claims, for example). Tattoos are a way minor thing - but they are permanent. I guess I'm in favor of some age limit - I don't know if 18 is the right one.

[etherealtruth]

41. I share your bifurcated feelings

For my children ... I am pretty clear ... not until they are 18 and have graduated from High School.

As clear as I am about the choices I make as a parent ... I also am really hesitant to make choices like this for other parents

[JoePhilly]

13. No tattoo ... be he should be allowed to get a conceal carry license ... this is America!!!

[HopeHoops]

15. The tattoo artist is also to blame for not requiring ID. You can't get one under 18 in PA either.

I've actually seen a tattoo used as proof of ID - woman in a bikini top and shorts asking for a pack of cigarettes. She ASKED if he needed to see her ID and he said, "no, I noticed the tat."

[RZM]

16. I agree. The artist was obvioulsy not familiar with Georgia law on the subject

Which states that only a doctor can give a child a tattoo. Either that or they didn't care about violating the law.

That being said, this case alone shows that tattoos are not the same as valid ID. I once accompanied a friend to get a tattoo when we were both 17. Her parents were not present (I don't know if she had a note or what. It was a long time ago). Regardless of the law, tattoos do end up on minors.

[HopeHoops]

20. That they do.

[socialindependocrat]

17. Two things - parental concent - not knowing

Here we have a mother who has responsibility for raising HER child.

Then the law says - You shouldn't have done that
and the mother is surprised that she is in trouble.

You and I may have not have done the same but
this mother made a decision based on her logic.

Do we start to take children away from people
when a judge disagrees with a parental decision is made?

If you're going to do that then make up a rule book
that parents can study so they won't get in trouble.
Set up a hotline so the parents can call and ask what is
"acceptable" and what is not - And while they're at it
they can tell the parent what the fine will be or if they will
loose their children.

Where do we draw the line when judging parents and how they raise their children.

When I was growing up it was a parents decision iof they wanted to allow their child to smoke cigarettes. Most didn't but some did.
What should the penalty be?

It may be tough to watch but where do you draw the line.

If parents from the middle class vote republican -
do we take away their children?
Now there is a sign of irresponsibility if I've ever seen one.
Agree?

[RZM]

19. The line already is drawn. The law is very clear.

You have to be 18.

And no, I don't think how somebody votes should be a reason to take their children away. We have a secret ballot and how one votes is not the business of the state.

[socialindependocrat]

22. OMG- You have no sense of humor at all do you?

[Ecumenist]

23. I don't get it...She WAS ARRESTED becasue her son got a tattoo? It might not

be what I would do but the reason they give makes me understand. Geez.. Why wasn't the tattoo artist charged? After all they are supposed to know the laws that pertain to their vocation.

[bigwillq]

24. The only thing I see wrong with this is the arrest.

If the parent and child decide on it together, then I respect their decision. This should not be illegal, imo.

[Brickbat]

25. He should get his ear pierced instead.

[RZM]

26. Touche

Hard to commemorate your deceased brother with an earring though.

[Brickbat]

28. Not at all.

Not just for pets!

[trumad]

27. weee

This should be a good one.

[Ms. Toad]

29. I'm actually surprised

that so many people seem to agree that there should be an age limit, and that mom needs to exercise better reasoning.

Guess I've been around too many people who memorialize their deceased children/siblings this way recently. I assumed it was more accepted than it appears to be here.

[seabeyond]

30. i didnt think there would ever be a reason that i might consider being ok with a parent letting a 10

yr old get a tattoo.

this has to be about the only one.

he would not ever wish it away. and a dead brother. handling the death.

i use to like tattoos here and there, but people have gone os far, i dont like them any more. but i will leave the parent alone on this one

[customerserviceguy]

35. Then it becomes a matter of opinion

whether a tattoo is "correct" or not. If a white supremacist family wanted to authorize a swastika tattoo on a ten year old, it's easy to say that's wrong. Or is it?

There's a law in place to protect minors from being exploited by something that is not medical care, and is very difficult to remove. It has a legitimate purpose, no matter what the subject of the tattoo.

[seabeyond]

37. i am not arguing law. this isnt mine to do. i would not put a tattoo on a 10yr old.

Last edited Fri Jan 20, 2012, 11:06 PM - Edit history (1)

what i said was

i did not think there was ever a reason i would not say something about the parenting of a mom who got a tattoo for her 10 yr old.

this is it.

no more. no less.

[yardwork]

32. This is horrible. The mother was arrested?

The little boy's brother died so he wanted to get a memorial tattoo, and his mom said it was ok. Maybe this was poor judgement on her part, I don't know. But it certainly didn't warrant being arrested! Now the little boy is doubly traumatized. This is family values how?

[KT2000]

33. Happened here

The father used a hot hanger to brand his children with their last name. He was found not guilty.

[sarcasmo]

34. One more reason to arrest someone, in the greatest prison industry on the Planet.

[RZM]

36. She's been charged with a misdemeanor

I don't know if time will be on the table or not. My guess is that she will not serve time over this, but will probably pay a fine and do community service.

[MadrasT]

38. While i think it's not a great idea for a 10 year old to get a tattoo,

1. I think the law is ridiculous
2. I think the tattoo artist should be held at least equally liable

I have often wondered how we are supposed to not break laws that we don't even know exist? Seriously, there are *so* many laws now, federal and state, plus all kinds of local ordinances. How is a regular person supposed to know what they all are?

[RZM]

39. That is a good point

Except the tattoo artist certainly should have known the law. If you're in a trade like that, you really need to know applicable laws. Maybe not every last one of them, but what age your customers have to be is definitely one that you should know.

I'm starting to think that the tattoo artist did know the law and chose to ignore it.

[LeftyMom]

40. I doubt he's going to change his mind about memorializing his dead brother.

My concern would be that anybody who is reputable and uses proper equipment and sterilization procedures wouldn't go near anybody that age, so was his tattoo done safely?