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CLICK HERE to go to the links and resources page but first please read below what has been happening in the state to amend the great injustice done to the citizens of the state of Oklahoma. This is a subject that is very near and dear to my heart as I used to be a underground tattoo artist here in the great state of Oklahoma (albeit a little backwards sometimes). Did you know that as of April 2005 that Oklahoma is the only, I REPEAT only state in the good old USA where it is illegal to get a tattoo? That a very few of our elected officials are able to prevent the passing of a bill in the state of Oklahoma that would allow tattooing to be safe and sanitary is unconscionable. And the fact that they do it because of personal religious beliefs rather than (and above) any concern for public safety is hypocritical beyond belief. One man that we Oklahomans have elected is responsible for the demise of HB 1519 whose author Congressman Al Lindley got past the floor of congress with a 30-15 vote. Rep Kris Steel of the Oklahoma Legislature refused to allow the Bill on the floor, thereby preventing its approval for another year. Rep Steel said that tattooing was not one of his priorities. How much of a priority does it have to be to allow a vote of an existing bill that was already approved and had all needed measures to regulate tattooing in place. The chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee, Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee is the one responsible for refusing to hear the bill. A similar bill was approved by the House Commerce, Industry and Labor Committee earlier this year but died on the House floor. That committee's chairman, Rep. Mike Wilt, R-Bartlesville, said he voted for the bill after the state Department of Health expressed support. If you wish to share your opinion with Rep Steel his e-mail address is steelekr@lsb.state.ok.us and the URL to his official website is http://www.odl.state.ok.us/sginfo/whoiswho/who48/steele.htm Rep Steel does hold a BA in Religion just for the record. Legislation that would have changed Oklahoma's status as the only state where tattooing is outlawed died after the House Health and Human Services Committee declined to hear the bill by Thursday's deadline. The measure would have licensed tattoo parlors and created regulations to be administered by the state Department of Health. The bill's author, Rep. Al Lindley (D- Oklahoma City), made a final push to bring the bill to the House floor Friday: He asked lawmakers to suspend House rules and allow a vote on the measure. His motion was rejected 53-42 along party lines. Legislators are hearing the message sent to them by Oklahoma Rep. Al Lindley and Sen. Frank Shurden in the bill proposed to legalize and regulate tattooing. They have also heard from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, which favors the bill. State Health Commissioner Dr. Mike Crutcher said the legislation would help "assure a protected environment" for anyone seeking a tattoo in Oklahoma. An outdated law is on the books from the early 60's that makes tattooing in the state of Oklahoma illegal. With the proliferation of tattoo's these days this is posing a serious health risk problem for the citizens of Oklahoma who wish to express their rights for free speech and artistic expression as provided for in the constitution. The law is 25 years out of date and forces Oklahomans to either go out of state to get tattoo art done or their other, more likely option, is to go to a local underground tattoo artist that is operating without the benefits of regulation nor proper training in some cases. The states that do regulate tattooing (you know the other 49 of them) the health department in most cases oversees the operation, licensing and / or training of the tattoo artist ensuring that their citizens have a safe place to get their ink work done. Why you ask? Is it because Oklahoma is better than the
other states and the majority of its citizens find tattoos morally
objectionable? No! It is because Oklahoma is primarily in the bible belt and the
republicans refuse to see logic and reason, and instead cling to an old
fashioned religious bible quote that says god decreed us not to mark and tattoo
our bodies. Of course this same verse in the bible also says that you cant
wear clothes made of 2 different kinds of material, nor eat fruit from a tree
unless 4 years of crops have first be sacrificed to the lord and it also says
that man shall not cut the hair on his head or trim his facial hair. I
wonder how many of the religious fanatics that are opposing the push to make
tattooing legal have hair to their ass and a beards to their waist. I
think it so hypocritical that organized religion can single out one quote that
fits their needs meanwhile ignoring everything around it. The chapter and
verses dealing with this in the bible is
LEVITICUS 19: 19-28 19 "
'Keep my decrees. Courtesy of Inksling.com As you can see the Old Testament bible quote above that opposition members are so fond of citing is surrounded by verses that are obviously ignored which is true to form for hypocrites everywhere.
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