Once upon a time there was a seventeen year old boy. She had wanted a tattoo since before she was sixteen and thought she could get one without her parents' signature, but found out she had to be eighteen to get one. This made him question the age law and whether it could be changed. He waited so long, so why not another year. The law is the law and the government made that law for a reason. This is why I believe that the law on the age to get a tattoo without a parental signature should remain at eighteen. Today's topic, ladies and gentlemen, is tattoos; specifically, the age to get a tattoo. The law says the legal age is eighteen to get one without parental consent. In most states, the punishment for getting a tattoo is a fine of a large sum of money and, in some cases, prison time. If the laws are already in place and have been for a while, they should stay that way. The fight for teenagers to get tattoos is usually between parents and children (legislature). There must be parents in the courts, because “at least forty-five states have laws prohibiting minors from getting tattoos… (Legislature).” Some of these states are Kansas, Wisconsin, Vermont, and even New York. It's not just the United States that has these laws; they are in force in many countries around the world. Many people have different opinions on whether or not minors should get tattoos. Some believe that getting a tattoo is putting art on your body and it shouldn't matter what your parents say. Others say it's a way to show individuality. Tattoos can also commemorate the death of a loved one. People are entitled to their own thoughts and opinions, so they are neither right nor wrong. These people... in the center of the paper... and they took one if they still wanted it. Works Cited3 Carroll, Sean T., et al. “Tattoos and Piercings as Indicators of Adolescent Risk Behavior.” Pediatrics 109.6 (2002): 1021. Premier Academic Research. Network. November 11, 2013.4 Healy, Bernardine. "The dangerous art of tattooing." US News & World Report 145.3 (2008): 69. Premier academic research. Network. November 11, 20131 LaFlamme, Mark. “Tattoo Regrets.” Sun Journal (Lewiston, ME) September 15, 2013: Newspaper Source Plus. Network. November 11, 20132 Lobell, Jarrett A., and ERIC A. POWELL. "Ancient tattoos." Archeology 66.6 (2013): 41-46. Premier of academic research. Network. November 11, 2013.5 Roper, Eric. "Want a tattoo? Not if you're under 18: The state's ban on tattoos and piercings for minors is one of several laws that take effect Thursday." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) June 28, 2010: Newspaper Source Plus. Network. November 12. 2013.