Bloodied, but not beaten, piercers are back to regulate industry

OLYMPIA, Wash. – After having their bill punctured last session, state body artists are back for a second attempt at regulating their own industry.

Troy Amundson, 32, a piercer at Apocalypse Tattoo in Seattle, helped craft a bill that would allow the state Department of Health to set standards for piercing and scarification.

Even in his stylish suit, Amundson doesn't look like your average lobbyist. His dozens of piercings, tattoos and branding scars — "above and below the collar" — drew attention during testimony last session — especially for the profanity scrawled boldly across his fingers.

It's a form of self-expression, he said.

Before discussing the issue in front of the Health Care committee last year, Amundson was asked if he wanted to wear gloves to cover his decorations. Amundson declined — "unless someone around offered to get a piercing," he said.

Amundson's bill, which sought to regulate minors getting piercings and scarifications, got entangled in the debate over "parental consent" and didn't pass. Minors are not permitted to get tattoos, but they can get holes punctured in their body.

"Even though we didn't get bill passed, I wouldn't say we were unsuccessful," said Amundson, an amateur in lobbying who had never been politically active before diving head first into the 2005 session. "I think the public was made aware of the issue."

Amundson's work — rare considering that an industry is asking for government regulations — is done on a strictly volunteer basis.

This year, the piercer-turned-lobbyist is taking a step back from his ambitious push. His bill, scheduled for a Health Care committee hearing on Tuesday, would give regulatory authority to the health department. The Department of Health currently regulates medical procedures.

In 2001, the health department established sterilization rules for electrolysis and tattoo artistry.

"For piercing, we do have some concerns about the sterilization," said health department spokesman Tim Church. "This new proposal would help us extend what we already have to body piercing."

Right now there are no state regulations for body piercing. There are no rules for sterilization; no licenses for professionals.

"I don't think people realize that anybody could do this," said Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo, the bill's primary sponsor. "Most people could be really shocked if they knew that."

Even if overarching standards are a few years down the road, Amundson sees this session as a sort of stepping stone. The industry of body decorations needs regulation, but it is out of touch with state government. State agencies don't have any contact with the piercing industry because it seems so outcast, Amundson said.

"We're really looking just to start a long-term relationship with the Legislature and the health department," he said.

Of the many issues, both Amundson and Appleton agreed: Sterilization of tools and materials is of utmost concern.

"If you're putting a piece of jewelry of your naval — or places that we don't say — it's got to be clean and sterile," Appleton said. "When you think it's somebody off the street that is doing that, it's pretty scary."

One informal group, the Association of Professional Piercers, has attempted to compile guidelines on sterilization, cleanliness and appropriate practice. A number of states have picked up legislation to control sterilization and licensing.

Without controls, HIV, hepatitis and other blood-born health issues can be transmitted easily. Even clean shops can be a breeding ground for health problems, said Randolph Sautter, a body artist at Metro tattoo in Olympia.

"There's no way to know," Sautter said. "Every place looks the same. You can't walk in and say, 'oh, this is a sterile place,' because it's all about how they prep, how they set up, which customers aren't even in the room for."

Some artists will even do the work out of their car, Sautter said. Youths, without enough information, could be endangered by careless artists.

"The whole thing has been totally unregulated since I started," Amundson said. "There are a lot of professionals in the industry that would like to see regulation — for the health and safety of the people, and for the benefit of the industry. As an industry, we want to be professional."