South Carolina's Tattoo Restrictions Face First Amendment Challenge in Federal Court
A federal lawsuit has been filed in Charleston, South Carolina, challenging the state's restrictions on tattooing as violations of the First Amendment. The plaintiffs, a New York-based tattoo company named Tiny Zaps and South Carolina residents Joshua and Stephanie McDonald, argue that the state's ban on tattooing a person's head, face, or neck, as well as the restriction on tattoo facilities operating within 1,000 feet of a church, school, or playground, infringe on their rights to free expression. The lawsuit, filed against the South Carolina Department of Health and the Attorney General, claims that these restrictions treat tattooing differently from other forms of protected expression. The plaintiffs are represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, which frequently challenges government regulations on constitutional grounds. The case has not yet been tested in court, and the state has not responded to the claims. 
