While I am not in total agreement with the new regulations imposed on the tattoo industry, I have accepted the fact that the Commonwealth of Virginia feels them necessary and I will, of course, comply.  The problem is not the legitimate tattoo studio's that have been successfully operating and self-regulating for 20 years.  The real problem is the scratchers that tattoo from their kitchen table and make the rounds at "tattoo parties" tattooing from someone else's kitchen table.  No one, including the scratchers customers, knows if he sterilizes his tubes or even cleans them at all.  Why is the focus on legitimate shops and not on the one's that are truly endangering the public?  When I put this question to someone who should know, the answer was "you guys are easier to find".  I contend that this is a pathetic answer and if you are really interested in protecting the public then you're going to have to do the hard work.  Just because we are easy to find doesn't mean we are the one's to look for.