ANDERSON — Greg Stacy, owner of Ink’N U Tattoos, will finally have his No. 1 tattoo artist at work.
After months of working to change a county ordinance that prevents convicted felons from getting a license to tattoo, Stacy and his son Jeff, who was convicted of a felony in 2002, have succeeded.
On Wednesday, the Madison County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved two amendments to the ordinance allowing felons to work as tattoo artists.
The amendments allow a license for felons who:
n Have not been convicted of a felony in the past five years or are presently serving probation because of a felony conviction;
n Have not been convicted of serious, violent felony in the past 10 years;
n Have never been convicted for a crime that requires registration on a sex or violent offender registry; and
n Have not been convicted of more than one felony.
Jeff Stacy, 25, who was present at Wednesday’s meeting, said he was surprised by the vote.
“I think it went as best as it could,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting it.”
The commissioners passed the first reading of the ordinance in April, but the vote could not continue to a second and third reading because John Richwine, R-North District and commission president, voted against it.
After that meeting, Jeff Stacy posted several profane comments about Richwine on his MySpace page and called for a protest against Richwine.
Richwine took Wednesday’s meeting as an opportunity to talk to Jeff Stacy about the young man’s reaction.
“I think your actions and comments were inappropriate,” he said.
Richwine said he felt he needed some time to think about the amendments before he agreed to pass them.
“I’m being responsible to the people in this county,” he said.
Jeff Stacy apologized for his comments.
“I reacted too quickly,” he said.
Jeff Stacy said he was glad Richwine and the other commissioners felt that convicted felons should have the opportunity to work in the county.
“It’s discrimination,” he said. “It’s good they see it and don’t play politics.”
Local News
7:36 p.m.: Panel passes tattoo ordinance
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