The age at which a person is old enough to get a tattoo is a subject of ongoing discussion, especially when it comes to minors. Recently, an incident in Yuma, Arizona, has ignited this debate once again after a nine-year-old girl received a USA flag tattoo, with parental consent. This event has sparked conversations online, questioning the ethical and responsible boundaries of tattooing minors, even when legal permissions are in place.
The Yuma Tattoo Incident: American Flag Over Trump
Last year, a surprising request came into Black Onyx Empire Tattoo in Yuma, Arizona. A nine-year-old girl, accompanied by her parents, expressed her desire for a tattoo of former President Donald Trump, specifically on her neck. Sosa, the owner and artist at the shop, while acknowledging Arizona’s law permitting tattooing minors with parental consent, felt uneasy about the request. He gently steered the young girl away from the potentially controversial political portrait and suggested a more universally accepted symbol of patriotism: the American flag. The girl agreed, and Sosa proceeded to tattoo a USA flag on her arm. Interestingly, he mentioned to the family that if she still wanted the Trump tattoo in a year, she could return.
A year later, now ten years old, the girl revisited Black Onyx Empire Tattoo. While she had changed her mind about the Trump portrait, she opted to have her American flag tattoo touched up, reinforcing her decision and perhaps symbolizing a lasting sentiment.
American flag tattoo on a young girl's arm, as seen on tattoo artist @cutzsosa's Instagram. This image sparked online debate about tattooing minors.
“Just Because It’s Legal, Doesn’t Mean It’s Right”: An Artist’s Perspective
Despite complying with the law by obtaining parental consent, Sosa, the tattoo artist, openly shared his reservations about the situation. He emphasized that legality does not automatically equate to ethical correctness, particularly when dealing with children and permanent body modifications. “There should be laws and regulations of limiting the ages in order to do these procedures,” Sosa stated, highlighting his belief in a need for stricter age limits for tattoos, regardless of parental consent. He admitted to even attempting to deter the family by quoting a significantly inflated price, hoping they would reconsider. However, the family readily agreed to the higher cost, demonstrating their determination. Sosa also revealed that the family were refugees from Turkey and had traveled from out of state to get the tattoo, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
Online Debate and the Question of Age
The image of the young girl’s USA flag tattoo quickly circulated online, igniting a widespread debate. Many online users echoed Sosa’s sentiment, expressing concern and criticism towards the tattoo shop and the parents, arguing that nine years old is simply too young for such a permanent decision. The discussion raises fundamental questions about children’s understanding of permanence, the influence of parents, and the responsibilities of tattoo artists when faced with legal but ethically questionable requests. While patriotic expression and family decisions are personal matters, the case of the 9-year-old with the USA flag tattoo underscores the ongoing conversation about appropriate age limits and ethical considerations within the tattoo industry and society at large.
