Tracking tattoos to fight gang problem?
23.05.12
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) -- A Tennessee lawmaker wants to tattoos considered a form of child abuse and he hopes a new law will actually help stop some of the gang violence across the state.
We've gotten a lot of response on this topic on our Facebook page from many saying they disagree with this theory. Channel 3 went around to several licensed tattoo shops, where artists say they see first hand that the relation between teens with tattoos and gangs is very strong in the Chattanooga area.
If you want to sit in Chris Camual's chair, he says show your ID or hit the road.
"Individuals tattooing 17 year olds, 14 year olds and we have them coming in here on a regular basis," tattoo artist Chris Camual said.
He says teens come in to get cover-ups after being inked up by an illegal tattooing operation also known as "scratchers."
That's exactly who this proposed law targets. It mirrors state child abuse law. That means if a teacher notices a tattoo on a student, they're required to report it to police just like they're required to report signs of possible child abuse.
Source: WRCB-TV