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() A tattoo parlor in Arizona is at the center of a viral controversy after an artist shared a video of himself tattooing an American flag on a 9-year-old girl. According to the artist, the flag wasn’t the original design her family requested.
The girl’s parents initially wanted a portrait of President-elect Donald Trump tattooed on her neck, according to Sosa, co-owner of Black Onyx Empire Tattoo in Yuma.
The video, posted by Sosa in May, shows him tattooing the flag on the girl’s arm a design he suggested instead of the Trump portrait. Sosa told he tried to deter the family by quoting a price more than $400 higher than usual. However, he said the family, who is from Turkey, expressed gratitude for living in the U.S. and view Trump as a hero.
“They were just very happy about the opportunities that America gave to them and their family, the freedom that they were given. You could tell in the video that … she’s not a normal 9-year-old girl,” he said. “You could tell she’s seen things that other normal little kids have not experienced.”
The 9-year-old girl has an 18-year-old sister who also had a tattoo of a flag, which she got at 9 years old as well.
Where are underage tattoos legal?
When it comes to tattooing minors, there is no universal federal law; regulations vary by state.
Minors typically can’t enter a binding contract for medical procedures without consent, but some states allow tattoos with a guardian’s permission.
In Arizona, for example, minors can get a tattoo as long as a consenting adult is present.
In Idaho, the minimum age is 14 with an adult present, while states like Colorado, New Jersey and Florida require a minimum age of 16 with parental consent. Hawaii allows minors to be tattooed with parental consent. In Georgia, tattoos for minors must be done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician.
Even in states where underage tattoos are legal, parlors have the right to turn away customers who don’t meet their standards or age restrictions, even with parental consent.