Tattoo artists speaks on nine-year-old girl getting tattooed in Yuma
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY/NBC) - A nine-year-old girl from Turkey was flown to Yuma by her parents to get a tattoo.
"I looked up the laws it was all legal, I was like lets see, lets see I mean I didn’t do anything illegal," said Sosa, a tattoo artist and the owner of Black Onyx Empire Tattoo.
A video was posted to social media about the minor receiving a tattoo of an American flag from Black Onyx Empire Tattoo.
Originally, the girl wanted a tattoo of Donald Trump on her neck, but Sosa convinced her to get one of the flag.
She was flown to Yuma due to Arizona law making it legal for a minor to get a tattoo if they have their parent's permission, and she says the tattoo held a deep meaning for her and her family.
"I guess they were brought over here last time Trump was in the White House, and that was them being very appreciative," Sosa explained.
But she wasn't the only family member getting a tattoo.
"The older sister actually went ahead and got it five inches by five inches [of] an American flag in color on the neck and she was 18 and she was like, 'I'm American. We're American,'" Sosa shared.
Ben Shaw with the Alliance of Professional Tattooists says laws in arizona should be tighter as there is no age restriction in arizona as long as the minor has parental permission.
"At least 16 with your parent permission, and you've gone through certain steps say like have a design that you've been wanting for many years that has something to do with the right of passage, then you should wait until you're 18," Shaw explained.
Some locals believe only legal adults should get a tattoo.
"I would say even 18 because then the parent's are responsible so the kids aren't like why did you let me do that? And you're like because you wanted it," said Andrea Duckweed, a local.
Others say it should be a thought-out process.
"On yeah...The parent and the child both consenting at probably 16 honestly, that would be the youngest. 16 is the youngest actually," said Lauren Finn, another local.
As for Sosa, he says he had an idea of what he was getting himself into: "I don't take anything personal, business is business."
Even though he doesn't regret what he did, Sosa said he would not do it again.
