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

Given the circumstances of this case, I think all charges should be dismissed.

As a general rule, no, minors should NOT be getting permanent alterations to their body, but this is a MEMORIAL to his DEAD BROTHER and something he chose (and will likely never regret).

And the fact is, kids, even INFANTS, get/have their ears pierced all the time…there is a real stigma against tattoos or other less conventional forms of personal adornment in some areas, which could be considered a cultural bias.

Another fine example of big brother getting involved in every aspet of our lives. I guess Ga authorities also outlawed common sense.

Maybe some one show tatto some common sense into the Acworth police department.

Almost every tattoo shop I’ve been in here in New Jersey has a sign stating that it’s unlawful for a person under the age of 18 to be tattooed or pierced, WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT. If she consented, then what is the issue. Its her child, he certainly wasn’t harmed. He has a greater chance or being harmed attending public school rather than getting a tattoo.

Maybe someone at the kids school should quit being so pious and mind their own business. It was a tattoo in memory of his brother, not a gang symbol! I am so sick of others putting their noses where they don’t belong! Take care of your own house!

Parents should be allowed to give consent for their child.Heck minors can get birth control,abortions and quit school without a parents consent. We have drug dealers,fraud. You name it filling up our courts yet this mom is arrested for a tattoo. What a waste of money and undue stress on the family

@Raven – Thank for showing your ignorance. Obviously you miss the fact that the daily arrest reports only show people who are going to jail. What the arrest reports fail to show is all the people with neck tattoos who are not in jail.
You have mistakenly concluded through flawed logic that because some people in jail have tattoos on their neck, all people with tattoos on their neck will go to jail. That would fall in the basic reasoning skills category.

The article says the artist is being investigated. But, if the law reads as stated, he should have explained that to the mom & there would probably be no problem. That being said, I feel this case should be an exception to the law. I wonder what the laws are in surrounding states? If they’re more lenient & someone took a minor there, there might not be any repercussions. It looks like the law only states that it’s against the law to tattoo someone under 18, not necessarily that someone under that age can’t have one?!

She looks like a real rocket scientist

Perfect example of too much government. If the child had his mother’s permission AND the tattoo wad administered by a licensed tattooist then there should NOT be charges.

Good,they should lock her behind up, it’s bad enough already that kids have all these tat’s black folks don’t even need to go here,here’s a kid with tatoos going to a job interview,now this kid doesn’t get the job then he cries he couldn’t get a job because of being black, he didn’t get a fair shake in life,some black parents shouldn’t be having kids,at all,period.

When I read the headline I assumed the mother was an idiot who should not have children. But after reading that it was a tattoo to memorialize the dead brother (who was hit by a car and not a drug deal gone bad) I have to side with the mother. Tattoos are not just for prisoners and skinheads anymore. This was a really sweet gesture and I’m glad the mother gave consent. And it seems to me the tattoo artist is the one breaking the law here – not the mother!!! There are so many children living in abusive households and this mother is arrested while gangbangers, addicts and child molesters are ignored??? Where are our priorities???

Why didn’t the school employee speak to the mother before notifying authorities? I think there is something wrong with the person who reported it. He/she assumed it was gang related.

@ KEN and CARL

You know the old saying about being a fool. “Its better to keep your mouth closed than to open it and remove all doubt. Some of ya’ll reflect the brainless thinking that has enveloped this country since the mid 1990′s when that male sensitivity / feminization swept through.

How is this any different from mothers who get their baby’s ears pierced?

Ummmm. “No” seems to be the way to say it. Instead of a tattoo she could have put the money towards a good deed like planting a tree in the yard with a small plaque – something to have that is a living memorial. The law is to prevent a parent from doing something to harm a child. If the child wants a tattoo, he can wait to be 16-18 when he can pay for himself and is of age to make up his own mind. A tattoo is a personal statement. While I do not like them, he is too young to make that determination that will affect his life.

This “woman” is a prime example of how the Atlanta area is now basically a third-world country. What human mother in their right mind would allow a ten year old to have ink injected into their still developing bodies, as a symbol or anything for any reason? Seriously – what mentality (or lack thereof) would allow this? You want to memorialize your son/brother? Then collect money for those in need in his name. Form a support group in his name for those who are dealing with the same loss. Have a portrait painted of the lost child and hang it above your fireplace – but allow your ten year old to be “inked” for it? Trash. I’m sorry… but just…. trash. And bring the hammer down on her.

Ignorance breads.

For the silly people making the “black folks” comments….for God’s sake read a book. Many African tribes tattoo young children for cultural purposes. And WHY…when the law reads it is unlawful for any person to tattoo a child under 18…has the tattoo artist not been arrested rather than the mother?? SHE didn’t tattoo him, the artist did and the artist should have known the laws enough to say no.

ARE THEY SERIOUS? Both the law enforcement & mom are wrong. First, couldn’t she just buy him a shirt with his brother’s picture on it instead of marking up his body for life? sure he won’t regret it but she should’ve had more common sense but as I look at her body, it’s easy to see why the child opted for marking up his own, which he probably would have or will do when he’s 18 anyway. The government should take a look at their law, where does it say that even if permission is given it still can’t be done? and if they went there, then they should be fining the tattoo artist instead of the mother because clearly the artist should know the law and should not have done it knowing the child’s age.. or at least this is what they are saying. And to the nosey person who just had to make it known…. why? why did you feel that this needed to be reported? why couldn’t you talk to the mom? why is it your business? why why why? speak up!!

I would have said something like,”I think it is wonderful that you would be willing to undergo getting a tattoo to show how much you loved your brother. But you are just too young to get a tattoo and I want you to wait until you are old enough. The love you and your brother had for each other is forever. It will always be in your heart.”

If it was a professionally done tattoo, the burden was really on the artist to know the law. We don’t expect people to know the regulations around an industry – it’s up to the professionals in the industry to know what the restrictions are. Her arrest is really a basic travesty of justice, even if she displayed some bad judgment. However, for some people tattoos are just a part of their lives – just like some people pierce their ears. And for people saying this kid is doomed because of a tattoo on his arm, I wonder what you would say to my military vet friends who have exited the military pretty much covered in tats, or my friends who own successful businesses and operate in the corporate world with several tattoos apiece? If anything is dooming this kid in life, it’s the fact that his mother appears to be pretty uneducated and probably isn’t pushing him to succeed in any meaningful way – and probably hasn’t gotten him the help he’s going to need after witnessing his brother’s death.

I don’t agree with her allowing it but as long as its up on his arm where a t-shirt can cover it, it will not harm him later. the mom being arrested is simply stupid. If anybody should be arrested it is the artist as it is their business to know & follow the law.

Sorry, but she seriously looks like her mom got drunk a lot when she was pregnant with her. Maybe that explains the lack of judgment as well.

If you need a tattoo to remember some body, you have a terrible memory

GREG: “Ignorance breads.” Or in your case; ignorance posts. Unless you were referencing a bakery product I’ve never heard of, in which case, sorry.

State laws vary state to state read the whole article

I have to agree with the mother. Whether you like it or not, it is nobody elses buisiness. I smell meddling xians behind the law.

I am very pro-tattoo. And it’s a great cause, a memorial tattoo. However, you don’t know, at 10 what you really want. If the child was sixteen, I would agree with everyone else, the mother shouldn’t have been arrested. But even at sixteen someone isn’t fully ready for a tattoo. At 10, that child is too young, it’s close to Child abuse in my opinion.

10 to 1 this trash is collecting some sort of government assistance yet can spend money to get her 10 yr old a tattoo.

It’s no worse than having him circumsized.

The law says ““It shall be unlawful for any person to tattoo the body of any person under the age of 18, except a physician or osteopath.” Im pretty sure the mother didn’t tattoo the boy herself. She should have been informed of that law when she went to the tattoo parlor to get the child a tattoo in the first place, meaning the tattoo parlor and the person who gave the tattoo is liable. With every profession they should know all of the legal aspects about their business and if there is any question of whether it was legal or not they should have looked into it before giving a 10 year old a tattoo. Im not saying it was a good idea for the mother to let her kid get a tattoo, but the business who did the tattoo should have looked into it further for liability purposes before doing something like that.

You all are idiots who think that you can not get a “real” job with tattoos. Who says you can only get a minimum wage job with a tattoo? It’s not like he put the tattoo on his neck. I have 3 tattoos and when I go to get a job I simply wear appropriate clothing. I also don’t and never have had a minimum wage job. I am a professional with education. Wake up people

People comparing this to giving a kid alcohol are morons!

Let me get this straight-

You can mutilate the genitals of your son as a newborn baby without his consent but if you allow him to get a tattoo if he wants one then that is a crime?

*Not that I advocate letting a kid get a tattoo but how is it worse to let your kid get a tattoo then it is to mutilate your son’s genitals at birth or pierce the ears of your child?

Tattoos are revolting but trendy . But if people want them so be it. You cannot legislate common sense. There are probably many cases like this . People get tattooed in prison by even more unqualified artists.

That ‘mother’ makes me sick! You do not give or allow any ten year old child a tattoo! It’s more than common sense! If he wanted to remember his brother with a tattoo then he could’ve waited until he was 18! She should lose custody of her son! When I look at my ten year old I see a child as you should see any 10 year old. Why would you think to do something permanently that is specifically for adults?! Do all you idiots that agree with this trashy woman think it’s okay to give 13 year old girls boob jobs? Where do you draw the line? I’m going to go ahead and blame this one on lack of education, morals, ethics, possibly mental disorder on the mothers part. Poor kid doesn’t have a chance.

Atleast the mother did something that a lot would are saying is irresponsible n abusive….she took him to a salon to get it done…if this lil boy wanted it badly enough he could’ve been put in harm by going to an under ground artist n attracting a disease such as hep or aids. We as society have to realize that if our children are driven to do something…they are going to do it. Like the high society parents that think their kids are perfect, but are alcoholics n pill poppers. Or the ppl with strong religious beliefs who have teenagers that are pregnant. We as parents have a responsibility to keep our kids safe….safe means different things in different situations…this one I can say I understand why she did it the way she did.

Ok, let me get this straight. This little boy loses his brother tragically and he wants something permanent to remember him, and the mom gets arrested and YET, we read about these little boys professing to be “transgender” (how an elementary school child even knows this crap, I don’t know) and allowed to join the GIRLS scouts, but no one does anything to these parents who allow these innocent children to live this.

What is the difference between getting a tattoo and piercing a 5 year old (or younger’s) ears? If we’re going to arrest this mother, then we should arrest all the parents who allow their children to get their ears pierced. I say if he has his parents permission, then he should be allowed to get a tattoo. I wouldn’t give my children permission to get a tattoo, but that is my personal decision.

The general consent amongst the majority of the posts in a nutshell is government should not regulate mores that does not unwillingly harm an individual. The only issue is when something is accepted as social norm is indirectly has an effect (good or bad) on society, especially children. Why would a 10-year old want a tattoo in the first place? Because it is socially acceptable. What other issues will have an indirect effect on society as a whole?—Gay marriage, abortion, polygamy etc.

Unbelievable. Stupid, stupid mother.

Is it bad that all I keep thinking is how the taxpayers more than likely just PAID for this kid’s tat?

I do not much approve of tattoos but I do not believe the government has a right to tell anyone what they can and cannot do with their body. If the boy’s mother approved him getting a tattoo, the State of Georgia should keep out of it. That is just another way for it to persecute black people, as far as I am concerned.

I think the crime was committed by the tattoo artist, not the mom. He should be banned from doing this for a living. He should have known the law and refused. I have no issues with tattoos and I think wanting a memorial to his brother was very sweet. But, I don’t think children should get tattoo’s becuase they haven’t stopped growing yet. That tattoo is going to look horrible when he’s an adult and his skin stretches. Although cleary from looking at it the tatoo artist was amatuer so it already is too large and not well done.

Another poster made a good point that ear piercing is more barbaric and should not be allowed on children either. I am always horrified to see a baby with piercings. They didn’t ask for it and it hurt them!

Don’t put the mom in jail. Give her probation or community service and explain that allowing the tattoo really wasn’t using her best judgement. Her heart was in the right place and she is grieving as much as her son is over the loss of her child. The tattoo artist needs firmer punishment though.

Leave this mother alone… she’s been through enough already….

ghetto is as ghetto does.

What do you say to a ten yr old that wants to get a tattoo? NO!!! who’s the adult here? He wanted to do somehing to remember his brother…get good grades in school, go to college, make something of yourself..there are many ways to remember a dead loved one besides getting a tattoo!!! what is wrong with people and parents today??

To the people making black folk comments. Im a white male and i love pierceings and tat’s in fact i have a few of each my ears my nose and 8 different tat’s .

if i had a kid who shared the same interest as me and was getting something done he wont regret then im for it 100%. I never get something im gonna regret 30 years from now.

And if your getting it done right i dont see the harm.

And as far as busting the artists just think of how many underground artists there are doing tats on minors.

I think its kinda racist to black people to say there doing this like saying only a blk person would dare steal. Its a part of traditonal culture.

Many groups of people and races have learned from that culture. An artists paints on paper well some paint on skin whats the big deal

I also think this is the fault of the tattoo artist, more than the mother. I believe, while it was a bad decision, she really didn’t know. But, the tattoo artist is required to know. You can clearly tell this kid is not 18, and the artist obviously just wanted the cash. The “Earrings on Infants” debate is hilarious. I don’t know what narcissistic parent would find THAT in their child’s best interest either? Causing a baby such constant discomfort, annoyance and the risk of infection, for what? Looks? Babies don’t care how they look.

This is ridiculous. While I don’t agree with the mom’s decision, I do NOT believe she deserves to be arrested. What about the tattoo artist? They are the ones that should KNOW the laws about tattooing minors, and that they can’t do it even with parental consent. Give the family a break!

What did the father have to say? Uhh, silly question… sorry. Any how, he will be quite sporty looking when he finally does his stint behind bars. Does she have her tattoo on the same arm she is collecting her benefits with?

What do you say to a child who wants to honor a dead sibling? You say, “Let’s give a smalll donation to a charity in honor of your brother”, “Let’s plant a tree…”, I can go on, but I’ll stop here.

There should be an IQ prerequisite for anyone leaving comments. Most of the posts here just scream out “I am a bigot and a biased moron from judgementvile usa”!

Not into Tattoos myself, but I have no problem someone else getting one.

Parents are getting little girls ears pierced early as hell… why is that ok??

Child negligence is in fact a crime therefore the mother IS at fault an did break the law

Whoa, Big Fellas with Badges! What about that pesky old First Amendment? It guarantees the right to free speech. Just because the State wants to keep the chilerin’s skin nice and clean doesn’t mean this Mama gonna do that. And that is because she has a right – A RIGHT! – to deface her child while celebrating the death of her other child. And just because this boy will carry his brother’s memory on his body forever and ever, likely making it difficult to get a reasonable job in the process, doesn’t mean that the State has a vested interest in keeping his skin pure.

Anyway, if I was Mama’s lawyer I would start screaming First Amendment and see what sticks!

The government has no business telling parents that there kids can’t get tattooed. Especially in a case where the kid wants to honor his brother.

BRUCE:”From looking at daily arrest reports I can say with confidence that anyone with a tattoo on their neck, specifically, either has been, or will be going to jail at some point in theri life.”

That photo is of the mom.

The son had HIS tat done on his arm.

Just FTR.

RAVEN: “I think she is a fantastic mom for honoring her son’s desire to honor his late brother in such a tasteful, lasting way.” – By the time this lad is in his mid-teens and his body shape has changed the tattoo will be unrecognisable.

You wanted a big government for welfare, bailouts, etc. This is what you get. The larger government is, the more laws and interference into your life. They go hand in hand.

How is this any different than earrings or circumcisions or other painful things done to young children, before they even know about it? Reading the headline I was going to say, yah, maybe bad decisions on the parent’s part, but not something to be arrested over. But upon reading it was a memorial for his brother, COME ON! I think this is something that can be overlooked!

Where is the dad?

These tats will permanently lower his earning potential but will look great in prison. Thanks MOM!

how is this different than ear piercing?

I’m tired of people profiling against blacks….its a tattoo for his dead brother….Jeez get over it….People do more terrible things and everyone is worried about a tattoo…He made the decision on his own free will plus whoever did the tattoo should be held accountable anyways….People get tattoos everyday doesn’t mean that their bad people, criminals, felons or thieves…. Alot of the working class people have tattoos…. People need to get a life and mind ur own business and worry about what’s happening your own household because ain’t nobody perfect PERIOD!!!!

Mom should have steered her 10 year old toward another way of memoralizing his brother. She could have explained to him that when he’s 18 he can, if he chooses, get a tattoo.

I have nothing against tattoos, but I do agree that children should not be allowed to get them. There are some CRAZY parents out there I can only imagine what some kids would be walking around with tattooed on their bodies if there were no laws in place to protect them.

They need to leave his mother alone. Damn it’s his brother. If my son wants to get a tattoo, I will get him one no matter what the damn law says

The mother should be given a warning and the charges dismissed. The person who should have the book thrown at them is the one who did the tattooing. They are in the industry and they are the ones who should be making the decisions based on the law. If a ship goes down, because the captain is following a request to go closer to land, it’s not the person who made the request’s fault. It’s the captain where the full responsibility should be placed. Same goes with this situation…

THE LIABILLITY SHOULD FALL ON THE TATOO ARTIST — JUST AS WOULD HAPPEN IF THE MOTHER WANTED THE KID TO GO BUY BEER… THE ESTABLISHMENT HAS THE LIABILITY. HOW DOES THE TATOO ARTIST NOT SEE THIS IS A CHILD? HOW DOES THE TATOO ARTIST NOT ASK FOR SOME IDENTIFICATION? PATHETIC!!! THEY SHOULD LOSE THEIR LICENSE!!!!!

If it is illegal to tattoo a minor with parents permission the the tattoo artist needs to be arrested as well!! They know it’s against the law……. If the mother is charged the artist needs to be arrest and charged also!!

The news briefing stated that the law enforcement had to look and find the law that she broke. during that time an average of at least a hundred dui’s, several murders and thousand of drug deal’s a couple of children kidnapped, and some sick pervert had time to hide the body of their latest victim that will likely never be found.all so the county could prosecute a minor misdemeanor that holds fine of around a hundred dollars and a couple months of probation. I do not agree with the mother allowing the child to get a tattoo but it isn’t really any of anyone’s business how she mothers her child. it isn’t like she was abusing him or making him get it against his will. It’s amazing that people take the time to sit around and come up with laws that tell us how to raise our kids. I wonder if the people who come up with these laws have kids their self?

Personally I don’t agree with ear piercing for kids under 11 or 12, and since I don’t have male organs I can’t have an authoritative opinion about circumcision. There are differences between piercing kids’ ears, circumcision, and a10 yr old with a tattoo.
1) ear piercing is essentially reversible–just take the earrings out and in time the holes will grow closed.
2) unless someone is wearing earrings or you look at their ears very close up, you can’t tell if someone’s ears are pierced or not.
3) standard ear piercing requires one needle pierce of each earlobe, and it’s over in seconds. A tattoo requires many needle sticks over a length of time–long enough for the artist to draw the image.
4) because circumcision is (rightly or wrongly) a religious ritual and a requirement of Jewish and Muslim males, banning it raises all sorts of First Amendment issues. The city of San Francisco tried not too long ago to ban circumcision and they had huge backlash.
5) tattoos are forbidden in some religions, such as Islam and Judaism. The LDS church and some Christians oppose tattooing. So if this kid gets a tattoo at age 10, this could signficantly limit his ability to make religious preference choices later in life.

People who have tattoos understand – if it’s done as a memorial or other personal reasons, what is everyone’s problem w/it? Tattoos can be removed or covered later if he wishes. I think he took plenty of time to think about it, wanted to keep his brother close, & the design is tasteful. After a significant loss, I felt my tattoo was part of the healing process (& I swore I’d never get a tattoo).
To me, it’s a way to deal w/grief. I don’t have a problem w/it at all. He seems like a good kid, & I think his mom’s reasoning was fine & thought-out. Aren’t there larger problems out there to address?

You know I am from Georgia and watched the story on TV. While I wouldn’t allow my child to get a tatoo this seems to be sad., The mom agreed to do it because this childs sibling died in front of him and it was his way of coping asking to have his brothers name tatooed on him. I honestly think that sometimes you have to consider the psychological state of the mom and the child after going through this loss. They needed counseling not more problems brought on by ignorance but help. This arrest is ridiculous and at most they should have been offered psychological counseling. A truly sad state of America with no commonsense. You have laws but even judges and the wise know sometiimes they have to bend alittle. Extreme and ridiculous in my book. They need help! Jail barbaric.,

What hypocrites let’s go to every high school in Georgia and lets count all the tattoos on all that are under the age of 18, they start high school as a freshman tatted up…hey I am just saying!!! All the crime in Georgia, my neighbor just got her house robbed but no arrests but they made a break with this one, the mom, the child, and the tattoo, a big case for this one!!!

As a mother of 2 teenage sons, I was asked if they could get a tatt with my name cause I’m all they have, & I was flattered! but my response was no because u are a minor but when you become an adult its up to you what you do, & I advised to be smart & think about it. Dead or alive I’m still their mother, but a tatt is something they can regret later, they can find other ways to show their love & THAT’S WHAT SHE COULD OF TOLD HER SON …….

This makes me sick. The fact that this sort of ignorant animal is allowed to breed goes to show how little hope the human race has. What makes me even more sick are the people sticking up for this low life.

You know what you say to a ten year old CHILD who wants a tattoo… EVEN a memorial of his dead brother?

NO. You are too YOUNG.

When you are an ADULT I will help you pay for it, but those laws are there to protect you, and I am a RESPONSIBLE, LAW ABIDING PARENT.

She’s just lucky that poor kid didn’t get hepatitis or some other disease. A tattoo shop foolish enough to tattoo a ten year old has NO STANDARDS.

And neither do the defenders of this BS.

This is why we DON”T NEED Big Government! The government should be out finding parents that kill their kids…
I’m white but if this was a rich white kid they would not be areesting the parents but the tattoo artist.

Problem is there are so many laws who knows all of them???

Please people, cut the nonsense about the so-called “African heritage”. I’m from Central Africa and i can guarantee you : we do not get tattooed in Africa. Only convists get tattoos, prison-made tattoos. It’ very much frowned upon to have one. Both my grandmothers didn’t have tattoos, it is absolutely not a tradition in Africa, and i have been on many African countries, christian and muslim countries, and gess what…African people don’t get tattooed. So it’s maybe an African-american “thing”, but they did not inherit that from Africa, where its considered gross to have your body invade and mark that way…

Oh please! This all comes down once again to black and white. If this had been a white mother the police never would have been called. Why didn’t the law apply to the tatoo artist? Why wasn’t he or she arrested? There seems to be someone in news weekly receiving what I call previleged justice and they’re never black! Shoot and kill 9 people and you’re a white male you don’t go to jail, allow your son to honor his brother and you’re black then you’re held to the letter of the law. Abc do you ever run positive stories featuring blacks?

i can not believe all the judgement that is being posted about this woman! how many of you on here have lost a child? so what, it is a tattoo ! her race or financial background have nothing to do with it! is this what our country has come to? every generation gets tattoos. the is question about allowing her son to get a tattoo……why do some of you judge her by her color, assume she is on welfare and say that her son will amount to nothing! her son showed love, compassion and respect for someone he loved with something that will always be with him. that gives me hope for his generation…..because what I see on the news and tv with kids that young are doing or their parents are doing for them scares me. stop judging her for trying to help her son cope with the loss of his brother!! I am sick to see how so many would rather see this woman locked up and this boy put into foster care over this!! it amazes me that most here think their parenting skills are better…….where is the compassion for them that they lost a son…a brother?? I would like to know how many on here would voice their ugly and judgemental comments to her and her sons face?? how many who say tattoos are a jail sentence and that you won’t amount to anything if you have one actually leave their house?? ask your friends, family or neighbors…..I am sure you would be surprised who has tattoos! they are expensive….you won’t find many low income people with them…..check in the suburbs and colleges for tattoos, and body piercings. stop judging this woman and show compassion for her loss

The law was enacted to protect children with parents to ignorant to make right decisions. I agree the tattoo artist should be punished but the original story states the mother has not been cooperating with authorities. The tattoo does not look professional and looks like a “jail house” tattoo, in my opinion I think mom paid someone her or dad met in lockup to do it. The kid is not old enough to accept the potential risk of hepatitis, aids and the other risks associated with getting a tattoo. Mom should have known better and deserves to be punished and reffered to some good counseling. If you don’t like the way Georgia law is written get the heck out of my State!

MSTEELE wrote:Some of you say you should not alter a childs body until they are 18. How many baby girls already have pierced ears?

Excellent point.

I think parents have a right to do whatever they want with their kids- including screwing them up. It’s the beauty and scary part of being a parent.

My personal opinion is that I would never ever give a child a tattoo! EVER! They don’t need tattoo’s. I believe circumcision is wrong. If I had a daughter, I would wait to get her ear pierced until she asked. However, ear piercing and a tattoo are NOT the same thing, it’s an uneven comparison.

What credible tattoo artist would ever give a child a tattoo anyways?

First of all, a ten year old should not be getting a tattoo. They make those temporary tattoos just for them. Many people have presented the argument that babies get their ears pierced and that causes pain, so why not a tattoo. Well, an ear piercing comes out and is no way permanant. A tattoo is not something that comes off easily or without pain. This is a blatant lack of common sense with parenting. If the kid wants to honor his brother, he can plant a garden or make a sign.

I believe that the mother( parents) should be able to make that choice for their children, not laws or government. I personaly don’t have tattos, but all 4 of my children do, (all 18 & over), Everyone they have tells a story, or is in rememberance of loved ones. So I am with the mother on this one.

With a mother like that, what hope does the child have ?

He will regret it if he ever reads the Bible and believes what it says.

She should not have gotten arrested for this. As a kind-of-heavily tattooed person and obvious ink lover, I must say that waiting a couple years would have been appropriate. When I was younger you had to be 18 to be tattooed or 16 with parental consent. 10 is a little young, but it was done for respectable reasons and why are tax dollars being wasted arresting this woman?

For those of you throwing bible comments at this, grow up. If you are God’s child you would respect, welcome and love everyone regardless. Continue to go to church on Sunday with upchuck on your shirt from the night before to have a probably child molester wearing a cross tell you, you are forgiven for your sins…wacko…

In ancient Pictish society tattoos (especially on a woman) meant that you and your family had rank within the society. The more tattoos a woman had on her body, the higher ranking her husband had as a warrior and provider. I would not have my child tattooed that young, but I did allow my oldest to get her nose pierced at age 16. (And she did modeling locally –without her nose stud –Lol!)
My advice is: get over it. The law is a dumb one to begin with and probably pushed by those who equate tattoos with criminality. Which is really the criminal act!

What is most apparent based on the comments here is that most of you can’t read. There was no tattoo on the kids neck, it was on his arm. The tattoo artists has not been charged because the mom refuses to give up the name. Having a tattoo on your arm will not stop you from getting a job, most jobs require a shirt. Tattoos can be removed, you can also add color to tattoos as they fade over the years. Don’t get me started on those of you who judge how others raise their kids. All you know about this mom and here kid is the tat part of their life, yet you judge them like you know the family.

No PROFESSIONAL tattoo artist would have done this tattoo. In the article, it was mentioned that the tattoo could have been done “jail house style.” Which means someone, tattooing illegally out of their home, was the person likely to have done the work. This is yet ANOTHER reason Scratchers, the tattoo industry term for people who tattoo out of their homes, should be given harsher penalties for endangering the public health.

THIS IS FOR MANDA ARE YOU A PARENT IF NOT THEN KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YURSELF B/C GA HAS STUPID LAWS AND THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE WHERE THEY SHOULD ENFORCE THE LAWS THEY DON’T SO AS STATED EARLIER IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT

He should have gotten spong bob instead.

So, we can shove pieces of metal through INFANTS ears without their consent because it’s socially acceptable, but this boy decides and asks for this memorial tattoo and his mom goes to jail. Makes perfect sense. We let murderers and rapist go free but God forgive a parent gives permission to something that state disagrees to.

Lakasumbooooooooooooooooooooooooooodie, I think She shouldn’t go to jail because if the mom thinks it’s OK I think its OK.

okay, to me this is not as bad as somethings people get. it is a remembrance of his. like really ?
that should not have charged her. it is her child, if he wanted a tattoo then he should be okay. it is on his body then it is fine. if he wants people to talk crap about him then he can. if he didn’t then he shouldn’t get one. it is his choice of what he wants on his body. i mean he is going to end up getting one anyways.. i think that the person that gave him the tattoo should get charged, cause he didn’t tell the mother that it was against the law to let a miner . i am a 13 year old girl but i don’t think it is that bad, but in some ways it is bad, it depends.

This is ridiculous, the mother has the authorithy to give permission to her son for this. She takes care him, she feeds him, she takes him to the doc when he is sick, no one has more rights to him that her, therefore that is between her and her son,she does not hurting her son in any way doing this, was a decision between them and its nobody business , shake my head people , get in cases where the mom do not feed the kids, or do not send them to school, or abuse them, quit being in noise and take things to the extreme, whoever order her arrest is hurting the kid seen that his mommy is at jail, that is causing more damage to the kid that the tattoo itself.

Someone has to step in, when parental judgement is skewed by emotions. My grand daughter got a tattoo, a picture of her father, on her left shoulder after he died unexpectedly. She was 14, her mom approved (my daughter). We understood her pain of losing her father, but did not agree because of her age. It should be controlled through the artist giving them, and now have clear cut laws.
Parental guidelines have become cloudy in this generation. IT’S NOT OK.

The child wanted a tat to remember his brother that dose not make you a criminal!! its her son and his body he should be able to do whatever he wants!!!!!!

Though the mother’s decision isn’t something I would have allowed my own child to do– she is his mother and I have no right to place my values and ideals on her. She has experienced the loss of a child and the son has lost his brother. Haven’t they been through enough? All charges should be dismissed. Ridiculous.

Cody love’s Tiffany

Real talk his brother died he loves him enough to scar his body in remembering

As a tattoo artist myself, I understand what went on here. Here is a son and a mother that faced a dark tragedy and for the woman to be arrested is ludacris! I have had underaged clients and the parents gave consent to have the tattoos done. I do agree that 10 is a little young, but it’s not like it was an illicit tattoo. It is a memorial for a deceased sibling. I think that is a great honor to his brother and not something that should be condemned. The lawmakers need to focus their efforts on more demanding things than 2 consenting parties getting a tattoo. I think it is neglectful of the state to enforce such a law in this situation. Save it for if the parent forced it upon the child! I cannot believe that in this day and age a parent’s rights to decide what is good for their child is taken away from them. Would you believe that when a child gets a sunburn the parents can be prosecuted for child endangerment??? What has this world come to? I’m disgusted with the charges against this poor grieving mother!

I’m not sure baby earrings and circumcision are comparable to tattooing. Ear piercing and circumcision are both brief and precise procedures–and earrings aren’t necessarily permanent, but tattoos are wide-ranging and difficult to reverse, what if the kid wanted a full-back with multiple colors? Arm sleeves? That’s why we don’t go on the word of a consenting child alone, who does’t yet have full mental capacity for understanding consequences. Also, laws that restrict parental actions are put in place to protect kids from their own caregivers because we recognize that parents do not always act in the best interest of a child. In this case, it’s not in the best interest of children to get tattooed, therefore no parent has the “right” to tattoo their kid. To me, this mom sound well-meaning but ignorant. There are worse crimes, but she shouldn’t have pursued this.

i am a 39 year old mother and i would never let my child get a tattoo. The reason i say that is because my son is th most vaule person to me in the whole wide world

he wants to remember his bro forever and ever probably.

D-money- RACIST

1. Read the article. The police said it looked like a jail house tat. Plus, she probably went to a licensed tatoo artist and found out she couldn’t do it legally, and got an amateur to do it. Then she wants to claim she didn’t know…BullSh!T She knew and lied about it. Great lesson to teach your children.
2. Bottom line, Ghetto parenting. Anyone who says otherwise is Ghetto too. How hard would it be to say..”Aww that is so sweet, but your only ten. Let’s find another way to remember your brother. At 18 you can get a tatoo like mommies”
3. This has been a law for a long time. Next all the tards on here will say it’s ok for teenagers to smoke. We know it’s not, that is why they passed laws keeping cigarettes and alcohol out of the hands of kids.

I think the law is bull. That law was just passed a year ago so how could the mom have known. NOT to mention the tattoo artist did the work and HE should have known the laws and told her. I am with the mother though. UNTIL YOU LOOSE A CHILD LIKE I HAVE YOU NEVER REALLY UNDERSTAND THE HURT OR THE NEED TO REMEMBER THEM, and if that is in the form of a tattoo then I am all for it. It isn’t like it was some stupid tattoo or something. It was a brother wanting to remember his brother. I would have done the same thing the mom did and you can disagree all you want but that IS her child, and that law is just yet another way the law sticks its nose in your business so they have yet another way to make money off of us hard working citizens. UNTIL YOU LOOSE A CHILD LIKE I DID then you shouldn’t have an opinion on this because YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THE HURT OR NEED TO REMEMBER THAT CHILD and if your only living child wanted to do something to memorialize the child that was gone YOU would have probably done the same thing too

This is insane. The “Law” has no right to interfere with a parent’s decision. Last I heard this was the land of the free. Not so much in Georgia I guess.

OMG EVERYBODY IS WORRIED ABOUT THE WRONG DAMN THING!!!! GET A LIFE! WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING WILL BENEFIT THIS COUNTRY,,,,,FOR EX THIS ECONOMY OR ABOUT WHY IT IS SO HARD TO GET ANOTHER JOB!!!!!!!!! LEAVE THIS LADY AND THIS CHILD ALONE!!

“CHUNTERA”??? LOL.

I think that the moms shouldnt be arrested but also shouldnt go unpunished either, she had to of know it was illegal no matter what she claims and for that she should have to pay a fine and i think they should make her take the health classes that tattoo artists go to so she can know the risks she put on her son

@ LUA… Being the father of 4 children I’d probably encourage my 10 year old to find another way to celebrate his siblings life and passing. BUT… If I approved of his being tattoo’d it’s none of your friggin business, nor should it be that of the state’s either. These people are overstepping their authority with this kind of legislation.

If you truly want to be free a vote for Ron Paul is a good start.

It might be bad parenting,and I personally think it was wrong for her to do it,But is it really any business of the Government.They could really care less if she had of killed the kid before it was born,even lied and paid for her to do it.But to arrest her for letting him get a tattoo?Government needs to STFO of every ones personal lives.Next they’ll have bathroom monitors that require you to wipe front to back under penalty of jail time if they continue to get their way They will claim that it falls under the all inclusive commerce clause because you bought toilet paper from an out of state company instead of using you’re local obtained fingers. And the liberal controlled courts will agree with Holder at the DOJ.

First off its Georgia.

Secondly, if you read the comments you notice that most of the comments that are against the mother are racist comments.

Wake up Georgia, the mother should not have been arrested.

I personally would have not let my child get a tattoo, no matter the reason. I would have offered of the options as a visual, like a wall painting or a painted picture. That way when he got older he could have made the decision to transfer the picture to his skin.

But that’s ME and MY child.

there is a lot of laws we never hear about this now more than ever we r toke in control by the gov. r rights r taken from us more n more what is it going to be next look at all the things the gov trying do to us today u may c how later u wont be able do a lot of things leave that that mother alone she did what some of us do in r culture

I wouldn’t let my son get one but I don’t think it’s the government’s right to make that decision. I’ve seen parents who should have been arrested for real abuse but are still free. This seems like a waste of tax payer’s money, go get the real criminals.

To all of you who are commenting that a tattoo will ruin his life and ability to get a job above minimum wage you have no clue what your talking about. His arm is easily covered up and it wont effect his job abiliry unless hes wearing sleeveless shirts to work. I have well over 10 tattoos and i have a very respectable job in the medical field and have never been turned down for any position. I agree that he is a bit young but it is a memorial to his brother somthing that he will want for the rest of his life. just another thing the government is trying to control.

In Georgia a parent can get arrested for permitting a minor to get a tattoo, but the courts in Georgia can permit a minor to get an abortion without parental consent. This is crazy.

So is it illegal to get their ears pierced too? This is really dumb. Parents rights apply unless physical harm is being done to the child. Tattoos are not harmful. So getting a tattoo is against the law for an underage minor with parents permission, but getting an abortion is legal without parents permission. Society is becoming quite ludicrous!

If she was consenting for him to get a sex change operation that would have been perfectly legal.

I don’t agree with mom allowing her son to get a tattoo at the age of 10, or before 18 at any age. With that being said I am appalled to know that there has been another law enacted that takes away the right of a parent for their own children. Just because I don’t agree with mom and son for making the decision they made, it’s not my place to judge them or tell them what they should do or believe. What scares me the most about what is going on in this country is the fact that we have all become so judgmental when someone sees something from a different perspective than our own. It is instantly considered wrong. Grow up, take care of yourself and your own family and stop judging others that don’t see things the way you do. Stop electing people that take away your right as a human being to chose what is right for you and your family!

Mother of the Year. hope he didn’t contract hepatitis or some other disease from getting the tat. god knows she looks like the type that goes to the finest and cleanest of tattoo parlors. LOL

I have to agree with Cheryl on this matter.. How can it be illegal to allow your child to get a tattoo, but your child can get pregnant on her own & have the baby aborted on her own without her parents ever knowing about it!?! Tattoos are no different then getting you ears pierced & people have that done to 9 month old babies all the time.. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE PEOPLE? This 10 year old boy wanted to remember his brother forever & with art that the world could see. Why is that so wrong? I think the police should worry about the other criminals & crimes happening today that put real lives in DANGER.. not a boy wanting to remember his brother! Geeeeeeeez…

Here is a case where the “letter of the law” conflicts with the “spirit of the law.”

Body modification has been happening for thousands of years. We do this in modern culture with ear piercings, circumcisions, and cleft removal on children. Adults do this more radically for freedom of expression.

Hopefully, the judge will see the child’s development is not impaired by this act and she will only receive a small fine.

If the kid wants the tattoo and the parent okay’s the tattoo, it is okay. Then real criminals kidnap woman and hold her for ransom (aka bond). She pays ransom, and now will be asked, under the threat of future incarceration for non-compliance, to defend her-self against the charges of not obeying the ‘law.’ Another clear example of ‘law’ for profit and oppression not for justice, unfortunately these victimless crimes further discredit the justice by thieves system we have. A step in the revolution is all of us standing against bs like this. Never use violence, just don’t cooperate or pay the thieves.

The mother probably went to a professional place and discovered it was illegal and then went on to find someone else who would still do it. she and the person who gave the tattoo should be in trouble. a boy getting a tattoo of a brother that passed away, its noble, and i get that it is still his brother and will be forever, but its not someone that he remembers very well if the accident happened years ago and he is only 10 now. how much do we remember from when we were 5? 7? or 9? not every much.
he is too young to decide what goes on his body forever. forever is a long time and young kids dont realize what seems like a good idea now, isnt such a great idea in the future. the mother should have said he can wait until he is older and if he still wants a tattoo, she will be more than happy to take him to get it done!

Really? Over a tattoo? What about infants, toddlers, etc… getting their ears pierced? That’s painful, against their consent (most of the time), and serves no purpose other than aesthetics.

Posted by: Wayne | January 19, 2012, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm

APPLES AND ORANGES WAYNE!!!! you honestly want to compare a little TINY ear piercing to a tattoo? one little needle, in and out once compared to the pain of a tattoo?
you are confused.

i think it was ok for the mom to do it, i mean seriously its HER business. not the governments, or the person who reported it. also she didnt know the law, and the person who gave the kid the tatoo should have known the law. so, the government and the person who reported, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!!!!

i think that giving any person a tattoo is bad because then they wont have success in life. i (if i was the child) would want to be famous, i will noit do this to my child because my child will be beast mode without it

I think it is ridiculous to let your child get tattooed even if the mother did not tattoo him she let him get it. You can do many other things to remember his brother other than a tattoo.

I understand why the mom would let the 10 year old get a tattoo, but it isn’t right to get one at the age of 10. I believe that you should not get a tattoo until the age of 20. I don’t think that it is the child’s fault, I think that it is the parent’s fault.

I want to give my input on this..those that may think it is wrong that is your moral judgment..But there are cultures out their that pierce and tattoo their bodies to give honor to to what they believe in. I have seen this in images where the children are just learning to talk and walk and i can tell you there is no numbing agent used. And at least it is something to sincere. I have a tattoo on the back of my neck for my sister as we are twins and she is my only sibling i wanted to do something to show how much she meant to me and this is the most permanent way of doing it in my eyes. I also have a tattoo the has meaning to me after someone close to me died. He would of been 21 right now…taken from this world at an early stage in his life.
These laws are placed so that businesses can’t profit off of minors…that is a parental consent is needed. And if anyone read the post, the people who did the tattoo aren’t being charged because the mother doesn’t want to give up the name.
But all in all, this was her choice to grant HER SON’S wish…not like she imposed it on him and death can have an impact that therapy cannot fix sometimes memorization can bring some peace whether it be a statue, a plaque or in this case a tattoo… Who are we to judge??? Her allowing this isn’t hurting anyone… When you have your own children you can dictate what you want for them….

The real reason people should be warned away from having their kids’ ears pierced while they’re babies is because they grow up, their ears grow too, and there’s a good chance the poor kid will wind up with piercings that no longer match; one will be higher than the other, both may be far too low in the lobe to properly support a heavier earring, and the now-grown individual will need their ears re-pierced anyway. It’s not about cruelty or pain involved, it’s about doing things the right way the first time so that you only have to do it once.

The same thing goes for this little boy — he is still growing, and there’s a good chance that tattoo is going to be wrecked during a sudden growth spurt (provided it’s not wrecked already by being done by some kitchen magician; no tattooer worth their salt would dare put a ten-year-old under the needle). If his mother truly wanted to honor his wish to have a proper memorial done for the boy’s beloved brother (him wanting a tattoo himself is indeed a touching sentiment, nothing wrong with that!), she would’ve had him wait until he was done growing (16 at the very least), taken him to a state that allows tattooing on 16-year-old minors with parental consent (if hers does not allow it), and had that tattoo done right.

I do agree that she should be punished for not revealing the name of the person who perpetrated what is (in my state, at least) a felony, but when the person who performed the tattoo is eventually flushed out of hiding, I feel she should be left alone to deal with her son (though perhaps with some family counseling to help them cope with their terrible loss). _That_ person is the one who should be punished, as they’re the one who had the chance to say ‘get lost’ when she showed up on their doorstep, and yet they chose not to.

Another example of excessive government interference, with a bit of racism thrown in,
it looks like. However, the mother should think it over a bit more, imho.

People, please read the article! It clearly states that the person who did the tat is not being charged because the woman will not cooperate with police and tell who did it. READ!

Its simple, the parent has the right to give permission to the child..Govt should not tell me what I can do with my child… a tatoo isnt that harmful to the child compared to circumcissions, percings, etc… And to those that say he wont be anything because of it, I say screw you!!! Tats arent just for criminals and it doesnt mean youll become one!!!1 It also doesnt mean you wont be sucessful because of it. This kid can still be a star, an inventor, something that makes him a millionare or billionare where he doesnt need to bow down and ask for employment from someone else!!.. If employed, it could be because of skill or talent and not because of a tat not being there. Everything is all appearances with Americans, and most of you speak like he’s at a disadvantage because of his skin color already!! He can be the employer, ceo, whatever he wants with or without the tat.. YOU PEOPLE DISCUSS ME!! I guess the American Dream only applies to only a certain race and other races that conforms to those societal beliefs. And to memorialize his older brother I believe that is commendable.. And for those that say he can start a fund or grow a tree. Well that may be fine for you but it isnt a view or action that “everyone” takes. Thats your way to remember someone. In a place where money is scarce and trees are knocked down constantly, and also consider the fact that t-shirts fade or he will grow out of it, the tat is the perfect comemoration of his brother. Let this family live. Its doing more harm having his mother in jail over anything because you dont agree with “her” parental decision.. Well I dont agree with dressing lil girls like hookers, or piercings, or having my kids watch Hanna Montanna, Fred, or other shows that depicts kids acting older than what they should be and behaving in a manner that isn’t to my high pius standards!. Or wearing clothing I wouldnt even see my wife wear!!! I can control my kids from watching it, I shouldnt have control over yours!!!

On a lighter note, doesnt his mom look like lil wayne’s aunt!, just saying lol

If more time was spent going after a corrupt congress and less on a TATTOO maybe the debt crisis would be solved. Mom apparently did not use common sense, a lot of that going around…

Our government is out of control and the people better wake up or we will lose all our liberty.

The mothers actions were questionable, but not criminal.

The governments action are criminal, but not questionable.

Something is wrong with that!

TNB..

What ever – I just would like to know of this mom is receiving public assistance – if you can’t afford to buy your kids food than you certainly shouldn’t be buying them a tattoo!!

Just like the guy in Florida who was taken to jail for spitting on a sidewalk. It’s called a Police State! We are not even close to being free. Nearly every move we make in public is on camera. They can track cell phones and now have auto liscense plate scanners. The left is digging their own graves by allowing a centralized government to obtain so much power because they think they are on the their side.

Posted by: RZ | January 19, 2012, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm

“For the silly people making the “black folks” comments….for God’s sake read a book. Many African tribes tattoo young children for cultural purposes. And WHY…when the law reads it is unlawful for any person to tattoo a child under 18…has the tattoo artist not been arrested rather than the mother?? SHE didn’t tattoo him, the artist did and the artist should have known the laws enough to say no.”

Really? You say the tattoo artist should be arrested “RATHER” than the mother? Did the mother make the decision to bring the child to get the tattoo? Does this mother make many more decisions about the childs well being or should we just let tattoo artists, teachers, friends, and others make the final decisions about our childrens upbringing?

Kid wanted it. Mother consented. That should be where the story ends. It’s not my taste but it’s not my life. Nobody has a right to pose judgment. Ear piercings, plastic surgery, and circumcision are all performed on children without anyone blinking. Someone said you need a license to cut hair but not to be a parent – to that I say, why the heck are we paying the government for permission for anything? It is our God-given right to prosper however we see fit as long as we do not cause harm to another person. I don’t think there should be licenses for anything – marriage, business, driving…etc. It’s just another way the government extracts money from us and inhibits people from making a living and taking care of themselves, which has led us to a government-dependent society.

She should just say since her son went to heaven, it is a religious tattoo. cant mess with someones religious beliefs…correct?

I make the same statement every time I see a news story like this. “Do our children belong to the government?”

She should be arrested for naming the kid “Gaquan”.

It’s amazing to me the number of people who have all the answers once an incident is reported. Where are all of these knowledgable, opinionated people prior to the incident being reported? Only a small percentage of all the incidents (good and bad) make it into the media. So when all of these things are happening out in public, where are all the self righteous, crusading saviors? Why don’t they speak up before hand? Keep your Monday morning quarterbacking to yourself and turn that magnifying glass around on your own home first!

Has anyone seen the Tat? 10 year old weighs 80 lbs. At 20 he will be 160 or so. wonder how that Tat will stretch. There is a reason you don’t get tats when you are still growing. Common sense people. I know that her community loves tats but we are in america and not in tribal Africa.

Just wonder how this ‘tattoo’ may set this youngster back in decades to come? Why is it that plastic surgeons are now making MILLIONS in attempting to remove these ‘unwanted’ body modifications once an adult learns they are a negative, and NOT A POSITIVE?

What do you want to bet that the mom is a single mom; probably on government assistance; and probably used money that could have been spent on food, clothing or housing! SHAMEFUL!

Appears the mother is incapable of saying NO!

All you people saying that “next they’ll make circumcision illegal “:

Circumcision should already be illegal. Circumcision is unnecessary surgery on the genitals of a child without their consent. There are few things more unethical than taking a knife to a child’s genitals without medical necessity and often without any anesthesia.

Perhaps the childern of the arresting officers should be detained by CPS until a full investigation can be performed to determine if there is anything happening in their households we don’t care for.

The law is unconstitutional. Period. No government should be allowed to prevent a parent from doing what they want with their child when it comes to something like this. Had she forced the tattoo on the kid maybe. Next thing you know not sending your child to communist indoctrination centers (public schools) will get you the death penalty. Or at least take your child from you because you want to home school them.

Big Brother!
What the heck, the our Government is so jacked up!
If they what to harass and arrest people; they should start with all the criminals and minions in DC

babies get ears peirced! who said that was ok? but it is..i agree he should have waited,but a number of a jersey from his brother and his name! come on government,get a freakin life! yes he was 10.but thats for the parent to judge.and the mother getting arrested was b.s. too..anything to make a dollar.what a crooked system..

My question is simple – Where was mom when the kid was killed by the car?? We are doing this to ourselves!!!!! STOP!

Stupid parents and stupid kids will do stupid things.

@Dave .. you are 100% spot on and I’m an atheist. Government is not god and they have no business telling anyone what to do with their child.

Government is men and women providing services at the barrel of a gun. If they were really there to protect you, your family and property, they wouldn’t be the first to use deadly force and confiscation.

They are paid with your wealth, extracted by taxation with the threat of deadly force if you don’t pay their inflated salaries. Ergo, they are the degenerates.

The kid obviously went to an illegal tattoo artist since no business would risk losing their license and JAIL TIME. So odds are this kid now has hepatitis. The mother should have the kid taken away before her lack of parenting kills another kid.

This story is ridiculous. How about arresting parents who abuse their kids? how about putting childd molesters behind bars for more than a few months? There are real criminals who need to be arrested, like the Wall Street banksters and the crooks in Washington, DC. ***For personal freedom and liberty, vote Ron Paul 2012!

Not sure I get this…..it’s OK to pierce the ears of babies, but tattoo’s are bad for 10-year old kids? One leaves a mark, the other leaves a hole. I wouldn’t let my kid do it, but really………

Many states state that a minor can get a tattoo with a parent’s consent. It’s perfectly understandable that she would make that assumption.
Like she said, it isn’t like he asked for Spongebob either.

Really are you kidding me… Law says no one under 18 unless you have parents consent. As a parent that has taken both my children to get inked you have to have a paper filled out and notarized before the shop will even discuss getting the tattoo done. This is ridiculous I do think the child is a little young but its not like it was some random tattoo. When my kids came to me and wanted their tattoos I told them I had to approve of them or I would not sign for it. They both got memorial tattoos at the age of 15 and they are beautiful tributes to people they loved dearly and wanted it to shown on their bodies, which I had no problem with. I made sure they thought about them and they had to come up with the design and drawings done for my final approval. It’s no one’s business on what someone allows their child to do as long as they are not hurting anyone.

Would I let my 10 year old get a tat, probably not but a family grieving and a younger brother who misses his older brother who died in a car crash, if the tat would help him remember his brother and help him move on, and seriously that tat might always push him to succeed in life. How can you deny him or judge them it’s not your life. Is anyone here hurt by the tat? You know why the world finds it easy to hate Americans, well because they see how much we hate on each other.

“Chuntera” and “Gaquan” sort of says it all, doesn’t it.

Tattoos certainly serve a useful purpose…they identify the person wearing them as an idiot. Very much the same way a body-piercing does. Or a bizzare first name such as LaToya or LaTrine. They are warnings.

Why is it anyone’s damn business what other people do if it isn’t harming you…..70 percent of these comments are just ignorant, close-minded people talking about how tattoos are trash.

“Chuntera” and “Gaquan”

I for one am grateful that blacks bestow bizzarre names to their offspring. Whenever there’s a wilding‚ or riot‚ or vicious beating these freak-names are the only way to learn who is responsible. The mainstream media is uselessly vague lest they offend this particular demographic.

@Lord Ligonier | January 21, 2012, 4:32 am 4:32 am… You said – Tattoos certainly serve a useful purpose…they identify the person wearing them as an idiot. Very much the same way a body-piercing does. Or a bizzare first name such as LaToya or LaTrine. They are warnings.

Then you say the opposite in your comment at January 21, 2012, 5:53 am 5:53 am!!!

MAKE YOUR MIND-UP!!! Are you another Internet “Troll”???

I think it’s pretty stupid that a 10yr old has a tattoo yes. But the idiots on here saying that he is now going to become a future felon just because he has a tattoo to remember his brother is ignorant.

When I was 12, a girl had a tattoo party and got a tattoo of tweety bird on her arm. Of course now at 27, I’m sure she regrets it…but who doesn’t regret their first tattoo even at 21 years old? It was no big deal for her mom and it didn’t scar her for life. Even at this age, I will never get a tattoo, but it’s really no big deal to me. I grew up around tattoo and piercing parties and honestly, kids with tattoos did not grow up any different than me…Sure his purberty will make the tattoo ugly, but whatever. The meaning of the tattoo will forever be with him. I can relate because when I was 12, my cousin was murdered and it still means a lot to me how the adults handled the situaton. His mom did something for him that you will never understand unless you’ve experienced this type of loss first hand. But trust me, he will thank his mother forever.

I like what DJ said about a 10 year old getting an abortion. That’s really true. Doctor’s by law do not disclose their patients information so if a 10 year old got a abortion, that’s fine, but this kid who had parental consent could not get a tattoo…the difference is: one is legal and one is illegal, despite our personal feelings…sad, but true.

Not a good idea, but arrest/jail? Seriously? “There ought to be a law” soon
becomes, effectively, tyranny.

Tattoos are ugly and become uglier as the person ages. I would never allow my 10-year old to get one. That said, this kid’s reason for wanting one is unique and different – he doesn’t want it so he can fit in with the crowd or look cool. He wants it as a memorial to his brother. There is something to be said for that. I personally still wouldn’t allow it, but I think that when one considers all the factors in this case, all charges should be dropped. That family has already been through enough.

PS: Where’s Dad, by the way? Just wondering.

Getting a tattoo that is readily visible is a career ending injury…

It could be for religious reasons and why is it ok to give a baby ear rings holes…………..

I haven’t herd anyone mention the father……where is the boy’s father?

I agree with the mother. Her son wanted to get it as a memorial to his brother not some gang signs or stupid stuff.. That was as extremely mature gesture for this young man. And get some counseling? Really? Spoken like a lefty. She consented and the boy consented. Period. Remove this ridiculous law from the books and keep the government out of every business.

Freedom of choice! The parent consented, end of story. What’s next, babies getting their ear’s pierced? How about circumcision? I don’t need the law to tell me what I can and can’t do. I abide by the law, but Im not going to give the law my life! People allowing this behavior of the police is giving them more power they don’t need to have.

i think NOBODY should judge this mother because of the simple fact , yall calling her a bad mother and saying that its BAD PARENTING skills which it reall ISNT ! thats HER child NOT nobody elss’s child . i feel like she did NOTHING wrong by getting her 10 year old son a tattoo its her son she can do whatever and get whatever she wants to and for HER child . for example there are 14 and 15 year old boys and girls walkig around here with a tattoo all on their body and what not but, you not saying something to their mother about her parenting skills ! 9/10 they parent WASNT there wih them when they son or daughter had got the tattoo . so whats the difference ?

I feel it is NOT the gov’t authority as to how; are what a parent does to raise a child. As long as she is not abusing the child or not giving him food, shelter, or even an education, the gov’t needs to stay out of parents lives. It was consensual to honor his brother; her son. That is why crime is such a high rate…PARENTS CAN NOT RAISE THEIR CHILDREN AS THEY SEE FIT!

The people on this comment threat that are justifying the mother’s actions are hilarious – a tattoo, absent expensive laser removal – is a permanent mark. It doesn’t matter if a 10-year old requested it for his dead brother; a 10-year old cannot exercise that kind of decision-making. This is why we have distinctions between majority and minority ages. The mom should sure as hell be prosecuted for using her living son as some kind of memorial for her dead one.

Big brother in everyone’s business. Ear piercing is ok, circumcision is ok but tattoo not? Hmmmm As far as the cops go, remember, they are not very intelligent people and they prey on the weak to get their kicks of authority and power. The little guy is the easy prey. When you are a hammer everything looks like a nail!

Yet another example of how the America I grew up in and love is disappearing.

I disagree with her decision but I’ll defend to the death her right to make it.

The law is without a doubt a violation of the first amendment.

Every day, we are reminded that our “representatives” are representin’ only themselves, and have no regard fo our freedom or our Constitution.
What business is it of the state if a mother allows her son to get a tattoo in remembrance of his brother? How do we allow the state to deprive the mother of her liberty for this?
And the fool cop who says that counseling would be better than a tattoo— It is not up to him to make such a determination for free people. Families decide how to grieve for a loved one, and no input is needed from the police.
That so many comments indicate that this is somehow a matter to be decided by strangers is indicative of how we have lost our way as free people. It is a personal, family issue. Just because somebody wrote and got a law passed does not make it a just law.
We may be too late to keep from losing our nation, but we need to start standing up to “representatives” who propose these laws that steal our freedoms. Get in the habit of it.

The USA has achieved overreaching government with the excuse that they are protecting us. Badge of shame to have a laws like this on the books. Busy bodies need to focus on sweeping their own porches and use government for real issues. Hang on tight, anti-constitutionalists are squeaking loud with no intentions to stop until we live in a total nanny state sharing in equal opportunity misery.

Why is this mother considered to be on welfare? Is it because she is black? If she was a white mother would she have been arrested? Shame, shame, shame on all the racist commenters.

Shudda just gotten “Hopie Changie, Who Ma Daddie” tattooed ….

Everything is a crime now. No, I don’t approve of her allowing a 10 year old to get a tattoo, but come on, it’s not a crime.

Why didn’t the tattoo artist say no to doing the tattoo? I find it hard to believe that they don’t at least know the laws…

Tattoos are not as widely accepted as most of you think. Just because my husband and I don’t say .”.We abhor tattoos” to a person who has one doesn’t mean we don’t. We cannot stand tattoos on anyone for any reason. Tattoos cheapen a person. They are not seen as cool by many many people. Most of us just silently judge a person with a tattoo as one who MUST make a statement to the world, which is obnoxious in almost all cases. So just because you all either have tattoos or don’t seem to mind that other peope have them doesn’t mean you know what LOTS of people think of you and your ugly permanent mark of stupidity and classlessness. I would never tell anyone with a tattoo that it looks crass,ugly and I hate it I judge them for it But all of that is true nonetheless. Also we do not hire people with visible tattoos.

On these little things people almost entirely see the intrusions of the state for what they are, yet with more important examples a much larger percentage of people seem to have a blind spot. On a fundamental level what is different about this law regarding tattoos than government telling us what we may eat, what drugs we may take, and a seemingly infinite number of top down one size fits all regulation of our lives?

Why does this cross the line but not say compulsory government run schooling (and regulation of all alternatives) that aims to program a child’s mind? Why does this cross the line but a an adult smoking pot being illegal doesn’t? The list goes on and on.

I am with the majority here that there was no crime committed here, but the state isn’t doing anything fundamentally different here than it does anywhere else.

Whether folks would like to make this into a racial thing (now there’s a stretch) or whatever, it’s against the law and I think they’re probably right, a legit shop likely turned them away and the job was done in someone’s kitchen or something like. A comment, though, for every really great tattoo you see there will be dozens that are sloppy and quite poorly done. Just saying.

Ok My mom had braces put on my teeth, arrest her. My mom cut my hair, arrest her.
I got an abortion without moms consent, oh I forgot thats ok!!!!!!!!

The law makes it illegal for anyone other than a physician or osteopath to tatoo anyone under 18. The mother did not do the tatoo. She is not required by law to divulge the name of the one who did.
These charges will go away

Carl Johnson approves.

They lock her up for this when so many male children in the US are sexually mutilated (circumcised) without having a voice in it… Makes no sense. Not the best parenting in the world perhaps but seriously, this is too much.

This is disgusting! How can you be arrested for letting your son remember his brother??
This is just more proof of how sick people are now adays.

Sounds like Chief of Police Michael Wilkie thinks of himself as an expert on tattoos, religion, and emotional response. Doesn’t he have better things to do with his time and staff other than going after mothers who love their children?

Now what will be some fun is to watch this case play out in court. The Judge should dismiss this case as soon as the State has presented its case. The story indicated that the law allows a monor to be tatooed by a pyhsician or an osteopath, and since it is the prosecutors burden to prove that it was NOT a physician or osteopath, how will this be accomplished since the prosecutor has no idea who actually did the tatooing? My guess is that it was an osteopath. Maybe not, but just a guess.

Circumcision without any anesthesia, ear piercing infants (with no anesthesia) and this woman is arrested for allowing her son to get a tattoo memoralizing his dead brother? Granted, I would not have made the same choice but this is another example of way too much government interference with our lives!

for those of you that are talking about laws in some other state then Georgia, you should be arrested for being stupid. for those of you posting about the artist should be arrested instead, read the story! the Mother is not telling the popo the artist name, and you should be sent away also. then maybe the people that can read and think will be the ones that vote.

Okay, let us say we make an exception for this child because the tat was to honor his dead bro. Where is the line drawn?
Another kid, say 8 years old gets a tat on his neck honoring Malcolm X? A swastika on the forehead honoring Hitler? A tattoo of a half eaten thigh honoring Jeffery Dahmers?

So, is a Judge to pick who we are allowed to indelibly honor and at what age?

For the record, pierced ears will grow shut. Tats are pretty permanent.

I teach middle school and the majorityof my 12-15 year old “babies” had ink. I taught in NC, and as far as I know no one ever said boo to the parents. Seems like there is real abuse happening everyday that should be looked into more than a memorial tattoo.

Whether or not her kid gets tattooed is the mother’s choice, not the state’s. This is an example of the nanny state invading people’s private space and making choices for them that they should be able to make for themselves.

I knew a kid whose dad let him get a tattoo when he was 16. Would that be a crime nowadays?

REALLY?? Doesn’t the police have any better laws to uphold? This is stupid. Where’s the petition to stop harassing this woman? Stupid law. And definitely not your usual “abuse” … the kid wanted the memory of his brother ON him….. She didn’t know it was illegal…. and so on top of her son’s death, she has to stand trial so as to further traumatize her now-tatted (God forbid!) child….. (What I posted on Google+…. SOMEONE START A PETITION!!! How the hell do these . .. stupid, ignorant laws… Don’t police have much more serious things to worry about? Ugh.

For those of you saying that the parents should decide and not the state or government, do you also feel that it’s ok for a parent to consent to a 12 yr old smoking even though the laws says they have to be 18? What about drinking alcohol? If mommy and daddy say it’s ok should they be able to drink at any age? Again, laws are in place to protect from ignorance and lack of common sense! This is poor parenting and she should be held accountable.

I wonder how many of the outraged posters here voted for Obama, or any other big-brother- big-government, Patriot-Act-voting, NDAA-voting-politician?? Until you stop encouraging these dictocrats, you have no right to complain. You get what you vote for. Think about that. Then support the only man who opposes all of them – Ron Paul. Restore the Constitution, Restore the Republic! End the wars, end the Fed, end the IRS! Ron Paul 2012!

My biggest fear is having to live in a world where people like MI2CENTS are going to try and decide what’s common sense and what isn’t. Anyone that fails to understand that there is no way to legislate common sense should have their children taken away and re-educated by the state. See how that works? Don’t like it, do ya?

Can’t the mother be arrested for her choice of names for her kids ?

I see nothing wrong with what she did. The law is too strict. Clearly this kid made the decision to do it for very admirable reasons. As long as his mother gave her consent nobody should be allowed to stand this kids way. Its not like the kid wanted a gang symbol or something. Then mom would need to step in say no. As for the tattoo artist that did it. If it was illegal to do in the state then he probably shouldn’t have done it but again that goes back to the point many have made about the law staying out of parents business on small issues like this. I hope she doesn’t turn the artist in and I pray they drop the charges.
The law is actually the one that caused this kid harm by making him feel like he caused his mother to get arrested over his own desire to do something good. He will respect the law less because of it.

With the names parents are giving kids these days, there’s a lot more parents out there who are putting “cruel and unusual” punishment on their kids that will get them scarred for life and bulled all through school. If they aren’t being arrested, this mother shouldn’t be either. Big Brother, quit trying to tell us how to live our lives!

This is ridiculousness. They shouldn’t be arresting mothers under such circumstances, the law shouldn’t exist, and the fascist thug force(the cops) should use some judgement. None of that happens often in our fascist third world police state.

At least she’s not cooperating with the cops, that’s the last thing she needs, to talk her way into more charges.

“A parent should have the right to decide whether or not to allow their willing child to get a tattoo without the government being involved.”

That is EVERY parent’s right in this country and the law should be declared unconstitutional!

How about YOU stay out of MY life, and I’ll stay out of yours.

Screw the government.

In 99.9 percent of cases I am opposed to government involvement; however, laws are made to prevent the stupid and the ignorant from harming themselves and others….and this lady obviously needs help.

I am REALLY SURPRISED that so many people are siding with the mom on this one….and I am disappointed….it just shows the moral decay of this country. This kid has NO CHANCE – soon we can all get tats to memorialize him!!! Where has all the common sense gone in this world???

It’s perfectly ok to submit a child to genital mutilation aka circumcision, but not a tattoo? For that matter you can raise your kid as a psychotic racist or homophobe or in a cult like Westboro Baptist, but this is a jailable offense?

This is where the “law” and politics take it too far and Americans aren’t really free enough. The mother isn’t being charged for beating or neglecting her child,so the law needs to get off her back… Their needs to be an amended law rearding this. My 4 year old child has recently lost her father and if she were at least 8 years old and asked me for permission to get a tattoo oneday I wouldn’t object: I would FULLY support her. I believe 8 years is a minimal age to allow such since this age is when the understand more complex issues, especially since the child begins to understand permanency by around the young age of 5. I would just make sure it was in an area that won’t give her an “unprofessional” image for the sake of the judgemental a–holes involved with her future career that this world obviously still has (like some viewer’s comments posted here prove me right). And WHY is it that it’s legal to pierce your child’s ears at whatever age then?! Where’s the consistency with between these two VERY similar issues?! Ear piercing hurts too. Yes, it is less permanent, but to argue that, I know of many parents who have re-inflicted this pain on their child due to the ear piercing healing really fast..I wish this mother the best of luck and that justice is on her side. I also hope that the law regarding this is at least amended to allow a child to decide at the youngest age of 8 and that if a child was to desire such for something as sentimental as this case just make them present their case to the judge and have the child appear and personally ask the judge for permission. That way there isn’t an issue of the child’s legal guardian imposing on the child’s rights.

There seem to be a lot of self-righteous people who think they know best how to memorialize some one else’s lost love ones. Tattoos are art, and an upper arm tattoo is easy to cover. While a child of ten may not fully understand the pain of a tattoo, I’m sure he understands the pain of losing a brother. To let someone’s memory live on your body is a noble and decent thing, the child’s love shows empathy beyond his years. Lastly, its not on his face or neck, and having a tattoo removed can be done easily in relatively little time. I too would be proud of a child who would honor his lost brother, in an otherwise permanent gesture.

They hate us for our freedoms!

ROFL

this mother should be let go free. this law was intended for human children. its clear that this kid is maybe 20% human (at most) therefore the law shouldnt apply to him. baaa-booom.

So many things wrong here. The fact that so many are defending this womans actions is the most frightning thing here.
Only a fool would tatoo a child. Period. Her greif for her lost child is being spread out to her live child. She needs help, and I daresay not just for the missing sensibility about the tatoo on a child.
What world does she live in where a tatoo is o.k. for a kid? Thats the real issue, and if you dont see that tatoos on kids are wrong, then you yourself need help.

Definitely not the business of the state and, if you read the law as it was written, the mother has committed no crime.

So, parents can administer puberty-delaying drugs to their children but cannot let them get a tattoo at their own request? Thanks government, that makes perfect sense.

They arrest a mother over a tattoo but I imagine they have no problem with newborn circumcision, another cosmetic procedure that’s painful, against their consent, and serves no purpose other than aesthetics.

Those of you who are saying that this should not be prosecuted because of the type of tattoo it is are morons. There is a reason why children should not be tattooed. She obviously did not take this child to a repuatable place. Any place that follows the rules,laws and regulations of tattooing would not have tatted this kid. So she took him to a place that is seedy and most likely unclean. If these people are willing to tattoo a child then who is to say that they use a clean needle everytime. She could have just exposed her child to HIV, AIDS, Hepetitas, not to mention infections that can occur in tattoos that are done at clean places. I am not against tattoos. I have 4 of them my self and I have no problem with my daughter getting a tattoo when she is 18 but to do it before that point is obsurded. If the tattoo ment that much to him then he could have waited until he was 18. She should go to jail and that boy should be tested for HIV, AIDs and Hepetitis.

Also that is the law in almost every state. some states you can be 16 or 17 with parent permission but there is not a single state that allows a 10 year to get a tattoo under any circumstances

“It shall be unlawful for any person to tattoo the body of any person under the age of 18, except a physician or osteopath.”

So only physicians or osteopaths can get tattoos if they are under the age of 18?

To the person that stated this boy is doomed to a life of crime and prison for getting a tattoo is a moron. I personally have 9 tattoos and am very close to finishing my PHD. Just another example of ignorant stereotyping. Maybe next time you are visiting with your Dr. or Lawyer you should ask if they have any tattoos. You would be surprise how many professionals these days have them!

CharlieAdamsIn Kentucky, lol. Bitter, much? What lame venom you spew. Let me guess, you stlll think having a tattoo is like cool and rebellious. And you’re from the desperate left, probably very far left. LOL, times a bunch.

First off – I’m tattooed and have a number of piercings as well. I’m also a mother of two young girls. Neither of which have their ears pieced, and they won’t until they are capable of doing after care themselves. People are comparing tattoos to earrings … here’s the big difference .. you can take the earrings out and the holes will close and save for a possible small scar there will be no sign of the piercing.

As for the mother being arrested for it – she willingly took him to a shop (apparently with questionable skill level according to the article) and permitted him to get a permanent body modification. As a parent is is my RESPONSIBILITY to know the laws regarding my child. You know, things like car seat laws, and curfews, I would have hoped that as a parent herself she would have at least looked into the legal ramifications of her minor child getting a tattoo.

Also if she refuses to name the tattoo “parlor” in which she got the tattoo then they’re going to have a hard time going after the “artist” who did the tattoo.

What a horrible way to memorialize someone. Every time the child thinks of his mother or brother, he will think what a stupid mother he has.

As a proud black man, I’m shocked, disgusted and revolted by this gutter welfare scum mother allowing and encouraging her 10 year old son to receive a tattoo. Another example of why our proud black heritage will be lost in the ignorant gangster thug rap culture that’s destroyed any hope for our future. Shame on this mother and the rap culture the encourages this 10 year old to remember his brother by getting a tattoo, instead of looking for other ways to remember his brother. When is someone with common sense going to stand up and say this is a sin, instead of making excuses for this POS mother destroying her sons future.

I think the people talking about welfare and him ending up in prison are just stupid. First of all, this young man has lost his brother and is probably still grieving his lost. Did it ever occur to the idiots and racists who said all those nasty things that the young man can read this article and all the negative things you all are saying? I have a 10-year-old so I know that the young man can read all of this. Secondly, there is nothing wrong with someone getting a tattoo. My daughter has a tattoo and a piercing and she is a student a very prestigious college studying to become a doctor. She graduated in the top 5% of her class and has always been an honor student. A tattoo does not change a person’s intelligence level. How about all of you posters show a little respect for this family and allow them to deal with their precious loss the way that they wish to? And finally, if it was against the law, why is everyone blaming the mother when she (just like most of you) would not know that law but the person who did the tattoo should most certainly have known? This is just ridiculous and some of you posters need to grow up!

What the cops aren’t understanding, and the the teachers, is that tattoo memorials are a CULTURAL TRADITION in the black community. Get with it people.

The difference between piercing and getting a tattoo is a brand that is there for life (or very difficult to remove anyway). Piercings (on average) will close pretty easily, whereas a tattoo is something you will have to cover if you want to get certain jobs or work in specific professions. People judge you based on tattoos whether you like it or not. This includes potential future college boards, employers, etc. This may seem far in the future to this woman and her son, or maybe they think this is something that will never happen for them, but it is impossible to know, and by getting a tattoo at this early age, it might limit this little boys opportunities.

She asks “how can she say no?” and I say, “how can she not.” We all have to say no to our kids. This is two years after his brothers death. This is not an immediate grief response to the incident. This boy will survive without getting the tattoo. He has been dealing with the death for two years already it seems. Of course none of us can know the details, but it does not seem a tattoo is the answer to all of his problems anymore than any short term solution such as buying him a video game or other toy.

As far as this being a cultural thing, we assimilate all cultures into the United States, but all cultures also have to abide, to some extent anyway, to the laws of this country. For instance, some cultures have certain religious rituals that we are illegal in America, so if individuals are caught practicing these rituals they will be prosecuted. It is part of living in this country.

It is just my take on the issue, but I feel she could have, and should have said no to her son. He could just have easily gotten the tattoo when he was eighteen, knew a little better where he was going in life and had a little of his own common sense to use when making a decision.

I am disturbed by the patronizing tone of the authorities’ statements that the mother and son should receive some sort of religious or professional help for their grief. There is an implication here that these people must be misguided in their grieving methods because it’s not the way white people would grieve. That is an opinion they should keep to themselves. It is none of their business and people should be free to grieve however they wish as long as it doesn’t harm others in society.

I understand the purpose of the law, but if the tattoo isn’t somewhere that might prevent him from getting a job later in life, I think an exception should be made. You may not understand it because it isn’t the norm in your community, but many people get tattoos to remember their deceased loved ones. Even children have free speech rights and provided this child is choosing to make an expression that won’t hurt him later in life, I see no problem with it. If he were getting a tattoo that said “thug life” on his forehead, it would be an entirely different situation.

If tattooing a child who asked for a tattoo to remember his brother is a crime, then I think that these police officals have to much time on their hands. I live in MN and a child can recieve a tattoo here as long as the parent gives concent. I would not allow my child to get a tattoo but as a parent I have the right to allow my child to what I feel is right. The police need to mind their own business, dismiss charges and spend their time finding REAL crimes that have been commited. This just goes to show that government officals are tryign to tell people how to raise their children. If they want their say on how a child is raised then they can also pay to support that child.

This is a parental matter. Not a criminal matter. Mind your own business CPS!

I’m trying to figure out why certain people are assuming she is on welfare.

On the neck, wow how awful. That’s just ugly.

In Alabama as long as the parent gives consent its five and I don’t really see the harm if its for his dead brother

i would normally say no tatoo’s for anyone under 18 however in this case i can fully understand why the mom let him get the tat it is a memorial to his brother and a way for him to have closure. I dont think his mom should have been arrested for it. no one knows how hard it is for a kid to loose and sibling and to witness it to boot unless you have been through it yourself. and everyone greives and heals differently so who has the right to say he has no right to grieve and heal in his way. and an fyi tatoo’s CAN be removed or covered up! instead of judging everyone else why not learn COMPASSION and UNDERSTANDING? the world would be a much better place if people would remember to love one another!

As long as both the mother and the child consented to the tattoo, body modification for the child should not be considered a crime. The majority of my friends have tattoos. Each of them have jobs that pay well, many of them own their own homes, the majority of them have not been arrested, the majority of them likely will never be arrested, and the majority of them have surrounded themselves with friends and family members that are intelligent, trustworthy, loyal, supportive, and law-abiding. This mother has not “doomed” her child to anything, nor has this child “doomed” himself. And if you are the type of person who would treat another human being as a second class citizen based upon his or her appearance, it is your character, and your contribution to society, that should be in question.

As a mother of two, I find it disturbing that this woman, and many of you commenting, don’t have a problem with giving a 10 year old a tattoo. There are better ways to show memory and love for his deceased brother. People like her should have to take an IQ test before having children.

This child got a tattoo in honor of his brother…Nothing wrong with that…Mom said it was okay…They should just leave them alone….

The law makes complete sense. A child of ten shouldn’t be able give consent, nor his parent give consent for him or her, to get something as permanent as a tattoo. Super obvious.

Dave, do you have children? Parents must give consent for marriage, abortion and piercing. I don’t really see this as any different. This law is criminalizing behavior that is not criminal. What a waste of my government tax dollars.

It was a tattoo for something important and special. I totally get why, under normal circumstances, you would NEVER let a 10 year old get a tattoo, but to me, if there was ever an exception, this would be it. I hope her punishment is more of a slap on the wrist. Sad situation, of course she should of/could of waited til he was older, but still… I’m glad to hear she is not dragging the artist into the fray.

According to the article, the mother probably knew it was against the law. She took the boy to get one anyways. I suspect it was her idea. She ruined his chance to be employed with….the military if he decides later to serve. Buy the kid a shirt with all the memorial stuff…. not a lasting mark. He may regret it later in life.

I truely believe the mom did it to prop up her own image.

The kid was getting a tatto in memorial of his DEAD BROTHER who was ripped from his life. And the mom got put IN JAIL? I bet all the police or judge looked at was “10 year old” and “tattoo”, looked at the mother and judged for themselves. if you ask me, the 10 year old had more sense than all the police involved in this case

Wha’s wrong with you people? Since when a mother allowing a child to have a tattoo is a sign of bad parenting? What about all the children that don’t get the tattoo but get no attention from their parents? Is that good parenting? Dee, you’re right on! Everyone keeps going and going about a child having permanent marks on his/her body but the tattoo can be removed later on. And there are much more profound and worring marks that can’t be seen and no one seems too care about those. I think that a critical judgement and common sense will give you a free ticket to jail very soon.

Laws are made for the stupidest percentage of the population. Preventing tattooing of minors is to prevent someone else from branding them for the rest of their lives. Not the case in this story, but again, laws are for the worst and dumbest of society.

Grieving mother who lost her oldest (or 1st) child…from experience, NEVER the same…

All attention & focus goes towards remaining children to keep them ending the same or too soon…Psychological alterations

“Mommy, I miss my brother”

“I know you do honey, I miss him too”

“Can i get a tattoo like yours to remember him?”

Commence the spilling of unbiased emotion…………..

2 all that are saying that ppl w/tattoos can’t get jobs or will end up in jail—i have THREE tattoos & have TWO jobs & have NEVER been in jail…you’re just showing your ignorance…the law that put her in jail is stupid…i think they should’ve overlooked it, it’s 2 remember his brother that was killed…

I love how ignorant certain people in this world can be. No, the kid shouldn’t have gotten a tatto at 10 years old, but if it’s something he wanted for his brother, it won’t be one he regrets. The part that he may regret is that it will distort as he grows and his skin stretches. I know of a tattoo parlor in KC where the owners tattooed their 2 year old’s entire back. I think that THAT is wrong because there’s no way the child asked for that and imagine what that will look like when the kid’s 20. I say that people are ignorant because some of the people commenting on this are discussing how this kid’s going to get into all kinds of trouble with the law just because he has a tattoo. Seriously?! I’m 23, white, female, a preacher’s daughter, attend every church service, have NEVER been in trouble with the law (I’ve never even been pulled over), and I happen to have SEVEN tattoos, two of which are on my neck (a larger one across the back of my neck and one behind my ear). My brother, who has visible tattoos on his arms, has NEVER been in trouble with the law and has a good, good paying job. We’re not what you’re assuming people with tattoos to be. My mom and sister-in-law also have tattoos, have excellent jobs, and have never received so much as a speeding ticket. Don’t make assumptions and generalizations about people when you’re so narrow-minded. To say that he will never have a good job because of his tattoo is sad. I bet those of you who are being so narrow-minded would be truly surprised to find out that some of the “professionals” that you know have tattoos, and a lot of them don’t even have to cover them up at work because there’s not as big of a stigma around tattoos as there used to be. I don’t feel like this mother should be considered a criminal for what happened. I think she should have convinced him to wait until his body had grown so it wouldn’t distort and have to be touched up, but come on guys. Leave them be; they’ve suffered a lot as it is. And really, some of you should stop being so superficial and judgemental!

I do believe that shouldn’t get tattoos before the age of 18 even with parent consent. I may not agree what she did, but what the tat stands for isn’t bad and the mother shouldn’t have been arrested for it. Now what is making me is upset is a few people in the thread talking about he wont get a job because he is tatted up. I’m a black middle school teacher with tattoos. I have never had any trouble finding a job or getting turned down by a job because of my tattoos. I seen people in many professions who have tattoos and if it is a problem with it there is ways to go about covering them up whether it be clothes or cover up make up. Lets think logically. Also in some cultures children getting tattoos is the norm.

The real crime here is the intrusion into these people’s private life, How dare you arrest someone for something so trivial. Don’t we have more important things to talk about. I think the real story here is a government supporting a police state to take away our rights. What did this women do to deserve going to jail, who did she hurt? Why is a consenting minor asking for and receiving a tattoo to remember his brother from his consenting mother anyone’s business but their own? Look at all the bigotry from ignorant people claiming this women is a bad parent. She could be a great mom, I respect her for respecting her sons choice. Stop attacking peoples liberties, mind your own business, and stop attacking everyone who doesn’t conform to your narrow standards.

Are you kidding me look at the world today not only should his mother beable to give her consint on something like that she should beable to fight for that right as his mother that is something that the state has to much pull over and while yes i do agree that children shouldnt beable to just go and get any kind of body modification at that age but what dose a mother tell her son after he tells her he want something to remember his brother for something that gose untuched for the rest of your life now that would be different if it was something that in 5 years he will regret but he wanted something that i dont think he will ever regret and for the people that inforce such a law that will not alow a mother to raise her son in a fashion that is her own you are wrong we all make mistakes and i am sure that more people are getting away with things that you should be realy on top of not something like this yall are putting someone threw hell for her son to remember her dead son and his brother i wish all kids could look at things the way this child did he was willing to go threw a little pain compared to what his brother went there to remember him wth

You assume because Chuntera is black, with dreads, and a neck tattoo that she is on welfare. It’s easy to judge people based on their looks, but until you know someone or have more information that tells you that she is “living on the system” shut your traps.

What I find amazing is that the story says… “The tragedy of this is that the child’s tattoos are some sort of memorial to a sibling who was lost in a car accident a few years ago. I understand from the investigators that there are several memorial to the deceased child in the apartment where they live. It may be that professional or religious counseling for their/her grief would be more helpful than anything.”

…Who can tell anyone how to grieve or celebrate the life of someone they’ve lost?? What the news and media fail to mention is that both her living boys watched their 12 yr old brother Malik die because a 19 yr old girl was driving/texting and hit & killed Malik. The girl was never charged with any crime or did any jail time for taking Malik’s life. Granted it was an *accident* but she made a careless decision to text & drive taking the life of MALIK a child. Chuntera may have made a *poor* choice in many peoples eyes for taking her 10 yr old son to get a memorial tattoo, but only God can judge her in the end. After spending time & getting to know this amazing woman even before all of the recent events I know that no matter what others think about her she’s praying for all of them.

All of you ignoratnt people posting comments about how anyone who has a tattoo is automatically going to be a criminal should really take the time to get to know someone before you judge them based on their appearance. I have eight piercings (four of which are on my face) and two tattoos and at the same time I am going to college for business management so I can own my own business someday and I also have two jobs. I am NOT in a gang. I have NOT committed any crimes EVER. I am NOT a deliquent or criminal of any kind. I DON’T do drugs. None of those things are true and it is WRONG that people think that someone would be involved in all of those types of things simply becaue they look a little different than someone else. If someone chooses to wear a ceritan color shirt should it be assumed they are a criminal? Because of how they decorate themselves? A piercing or tattoo is no different. Society makes me sick. I have tattoos and piercings and I consider myself a very polite and kind person and most of the people I know who have tattoos and piercings are much nicer people than many of the ones I know who have no tattoos or piercings. It is what is on the inside that is importatn. Judge a person on their character not their choice or personal decoration. People need to open their eyes and take a look at how the way they judge other people is affecting our society. I heard about a girl who was beaten to death for dressing “goth”. That makes me sick. Just sick. It is people like that who harm others for looking different that are ruinig our society. NOT people with piercings or tattoos.

The mother was arrested and charged with “misdemeanor cruelty” and “being a party to a crime”.

They need more prisoners to increase profits of the Commercial-Incarceration Complex Industry. And they are likely to take her kids away, too. This provides more “business” for the for-pay “child-care” industry. And also for the so-called “mental health” professionals, who will bill for their “services” in treating the “traumatized” children. And media makes money on headlines, too. And the prosecutor has another scalp for his belt – “protecting the children”. See, “If we can just save one child…”

It’s all about money, folks. And trumped-up “child abuse” charges. Wake up, sheeple! The taxpayer is being shorn! And lives are being ruined…

I think if the mom signs for it, he should be able to get one.
But the thing is why would you let him get one at that age? When he gets a little bigger that tattoo is going to Expand and look ugly !
Why would the mom and kid get in trouble for doing it and not the tattoo artist ?
But i do think they should be able to get one if the parent signs but i would’t let my kid untill he / she gets a little older .

The mother should of told her child to get a t-shirt of a name tag, plate something like that, especally if the law dont agree with iit. I dont think it is a crime because its her child. There is to much murder and abuse crime in the world for that little crime. should the mother gotten lockd up? No but she she got fine yes. the reason for that is for its aganist the law.

She should have been left off with a warning at first, but as I read on I seen that she was denied by a tattoo shop saying that she couldn’t do that. So, thats her fault for going somewhere else and getting the tattoo. She knew she wasn’t supposed to do that if she obviously got denied the first time.