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Parents Arrested for Giving Their Kids Home Tattoos
Filed under: In The News, Weird But True
How not to win a parenting award? Tattoo your child. Credit: Getty Images
According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the homemade tattoo machine Marsh and Bartels used is made from "electrical cord, spliced wiring and a guitar string for a needle." The Free Press reports that Marsh and Bartels used the machine on themselves the same day, all with the same needle/guitar string.
The couple has seven children in their care, ages 17, 15, 12, 11, 11, 10 and 7. The 7-year-old did not receive a tattoo because Marsh and Bartels decided he was "too young," Chattooga County Sheriff John Everett told the Free Press in an interview. Everett also said that he thought this case was "unusual," and that he has "never seen parents tattooing their kids like that."
The six children received their tats after Thanksgiving; Marsh said that the children wanted to get them so they could be like their parents, according to the Journal Constitution. Marsh is not the biological mother of all seven children (Newser.com describes the household as a "blended family"); Sheriff Everett told the Free Press that one of the 11-year-olds was visiting his biological mother after Christmas when the mother noticed the tattoo, described as "a small X," on her daughter's hand. The child claimed the tattoo was temporary, according to the Sheriff, and when the mother couldn't wash it off, she called Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services, who notified police.
The children were temporarily removed from Marsh and Bartel's custody and were quickly returned. Marsh is quoted in published reports as saying, "If I'm such a bad parent, then how come they brought the kids back right after I got out jail?" Marsh said that she didn't know that tattooing without a license is illegal in Georgia, nor was she aware that it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to get a tattoo.
Except that not knowing the law is not a defense, or as lawyers put it, "Ignorantia juris non excusat." The bottom line in this case is that laws were broken in Georgia, and there may be legal consequences. Bad parenting, however, is not illegal anywhere.
Would you let one of your children under 18 get a tattoo?
Related: How Risky Are Tattoos?, Parent Vs. Parent: Tattoos, Temporary and Otherwise
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 8)
1-04-2010 @ 5:25PM
Richard Busic said...You are a certifiable nutcase. Trust me you are delusional, stop listening to the fools who are filling you up with this B.S.
If you persist in this crap they will lock you up - - for good reason!
Maybe you should move out of whatever "Dumb State' you live in. Or just go back on your meds.
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1-04-2010 @ 4:54PM
jb said...Hey Ray it is "Tattoo".
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1-04-2010 @ 5:21PM
mbiggmiike said...How did a Moron like RM get a computer anyway? Do they have free internet at KKK meetings?
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1-04-2010 @ 5:03PM
basketpam said...parents????? I wouldn't even give them that much credit as to call them parents. These people are sickos. NO ONE, and I mean no one in their right mind would put a child they're suppose to love through something like a tatoo. I think that's part of the reason so many kids want them is they understand just how painful it is to get them, or how permanent. These young girls don't realize in 10 years when all of this has gone out of style they're stuck with these ugly, disgusting, black things all over their body. Just in time to meet some really nice guy, who, will not take a woman with tattoos all over themselves home to meet mom. Aside from that, I hope these parents NEVER see these kids again. If parents would do this to children, just what else have they been doing? Has dad been "asserting" his "rights" over his daughters as some weirdos think they should? Have they been physically abused? sexually? These aren't children to them, they're property. It still makes me sick how anything can produce a child. We have more regulations over who can drive a car, go to war, or even vote. but yet, any "creature" out there can bring a human being into this world and be allowed to be reponsible for it's future. Sick! As a civilization we haven't grown at all.
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1-04-2010 @ 5:03PM
Steven said...I myself have never had a tattoo but my father had full armament; full sleeves, stomach, breast plate and back plate. He had to wear button downs to work so nothing would show so he wouldn’t get fired. Even in hot weather. He would tell us that if we came home with a tattoo before we were 18 he would kick our butts and he could do it. He was a Golden Glove Boxer who fought at Madison Square Gardens. He said once that when we are 18 we can make that decision for ourselves but we better want them for the rest of our lives. I’ve seen (and even earned) some tattoo’s I wouldn’t mind sporting around for a while but not for the rest of my life.
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1-05-2010 @ 8:56PM
bondjamesbond said...How do You "earn" a tattoo other than by being involved in some sort of criminal enterprise?
1-04-2010 @ 5:07PM
Jack Fisher said...Obama is President so get ovver it??? Really? What goes around comes around and all you "Bush Haters" for 8 years did not accept him as President...Liberals always think they can do what they like and are entitled to their freedom, but no one else has the same rights...
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1-04-2010 @ 5:30PM
bonnie morrison said...I consider myself a good parent (hopefully) and I didn't get a tat until I was 55 years old....now I have three tats....and yes, I thought about them before I got them...and yes, they have alot of meaning to me (that's why I got them, duh)...anyway, my daughter wanted one because alot of her friends were getting small ones, so I made her think about it for almost a year and on her 17th birthday I took her to a professional tattooer and had a lion placed on her upper right arm...she loved it !!!...she's a good kid...finished school..so as a reward, I spent the money and paid for another tat on her other upper arm...she loves that !!!!...next time, she pays (with her money, from a job)....not all tats are bad...just use common sense...
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1-04-2010 @ 5:16PM
sandyin29 said...Well Said
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1-04-2010 @ 5:28PM
Heather said...i have many tattoos but i will not tatto my kids lol. when they turn 18 i will take them to a tattoo parlor! but these kids should not be returned to their parents. they are ignorant if they thought it was ok to do this
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1-04-2010 @ 5:20PM
remmy1 said...wow RM whats your problem with black people? After seeing your comment I clicked on your link and it was filled with all sorts of interesting remarks (to say the least). Such as this one "WHY DON'T THEY HAVE WHITE VOICES, IF WE HAD ONLY "WHITE VOICES" THE DARKIES WOULD HAVE A COW." Move on and get over it you are truly truly pathetic.
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1-04-2010 @ 5:58PM
Pamela said...I have to agree with you remmy1, I just read RM's profile too. This is the thing that bothers me especially with people online. Some seem very mad at the world and are so upset that an African American is President. They need to just get over it, and live their lives like everyone else is trying to do.
1-04-2010 @ 5:29PM
betty said...While I personally do not like tatoos and think most are disgusting...
I'd say grandma over steped her bounds... She's what ya call a "buttinsky\ie".
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1-04-2010 @ 6:39PM
Sunfaccra51 said...Betty, you need to learn to pay attention and READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE-CORRECTLY! It wasn't a grandmother, but the one child's BIOLOGICAL MOTHER-THE CHILD'S MOTHER!!! Get it, now? The story explicitly states that the "mother" (and I am using the term 'loosely') that was involved in the tattooing is NOT, repeat, NOT the biological mother of all of the children involved...euphemistically they are referring to them as a "blended family".
BTW, you are naturally entitled to your own opinion on tattoos, however, many of US disagree (I have several and didn't get my first one till I was in my early thirties)...frankly, there are OTHER things I find much more offensive than tattoos! YOU probably indulge in something many of US would find repulsive...learn to get over yourself!
1-04-2010 @ 5:41PM
weiner said...You should have an M tatoo on each cheek of your ass, when you bend over it will say "MOM" if you stand on your head it will say "WOW"
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1-04-2010 @ 5:48PM
Dennis said...Worst thing to hear at a tattoo parlor... What do you mean there is only one "O" in Bob.
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1-04-2010 @ 5:45PM
mr1dfull52 said...RM...Does your mommy know your on the computer again. Better get off before she finds out. Besides Spongebob is comming on soon!!
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1-04-2010 @ 5:52PM
KR said...Hey Al Schrader, are you serious about paying for a tatoo? I have a couple but I am terribly wanting one that would have my 2 childrens names whom I love dearly! Right now with the economy the way it is I cant afford one because taking care of my kids comes first OF COURSE! Anyway if you want to pay for someones tat I will be glad to take you up on that! Just let me know-Thanks!
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1-04-2010 @ 5:54PM
KR said...Aw man, I misread youre post Al. I dont want a tattoo of you on me but thanks anyway!
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1-04-2010 @ 5:56PM
David said...why does a woman think a tatoo looks good on them? it ruins them, first thing i asked when i was dating is do you have any tatoos or piercings other than your ears, if so bye bye
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