Politicians aren’t always the quickest bunch to catch on to issues that effect the public. Often it takes quite some time and anger on the part of the public for the average politician to notice that something’s wrong and to then take steps to correct that problem.
For quite some time now we’ve been seeing the serious issues that the purchase of DIY tattoo equipment is causing. Anyone can order a tattoo machine off the internet and begin tattooing in a matter of weeks or even days. It’s a scary thought, but what’s scarier is that there are plenty of people out there who are willing to allow untrained, unhygenic and unemployed scratchers to use their bodies as a practice canvas.
Hopefully, tougher regulations are on their way. British member of parliament Madeleine Moon is campaigning for tougher controls on DIY tattoo equipment.
‘Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon said it was wrong that tattooists could work without training or qualifications.
She told the programme: “You can’t take blood in a GP’s surgery without undergoing years of training.
“Why on earth are we allowing people to not just stick one needle in somebody’s arm and extract blood, but to inflict many needles going into the skin, possibly scarring someone for life – no qualification, no minimum standards of training before you can do it? That’s crazy.”‘
How exactly Moon proposes that stricter regulations over the sale of tattoo equipment is going to be achieved is not clear in this article, but the fact that the issue is even being brought up by a member of Britain’s parliament is a positive step forward. If the British government can oversee a successful programme to at the very least minimize the amount of equipment that is going into untrained hands, then that leaves us with hope that other countries can do the same.
Let’s hope that it happens sooner rather than later…