We appreciate the opportunity to discuss the current regulations and speak with you about how we can be beneficial to your efforts to better the tattoo industry. We would like to work together with you in these matters so that our voice can be heard.

The apprenticeship is a time honored tradition which connects our future with our past. We seek to preserve those traditions, while incorporating modern techniques and aseptic practices. Why not offer an enhanced apprenticeship training program which offers opportunities for hands-on-in-studio-learning as well providing classroom support, online learning and multimedia resource libraries?

Perhaps we could form a council or committee to ensure the members of our industry have an equal opportunity to be heard, This council could be comprised of professional tattooers and piercers from licensed studios across the Commonwealth as well as members of our regulatory bodies. This council's goal would be to create practical and efficient apprenticeship regulations while respecting the traditions of our tattoo industry.

To allow ample time for discussion, implementation and review could we request a 90 day moratorium on any new regulatory changes with regards to tattooing in the state of Virginia until adequate representation can be established.

It is our hope that with patience and communication we can provide quality training to the future of our industry while preserving the traditions of our past.

 We look forward to speaking with you further in regards to these matters and appreciate the opportunity to offer our experience as a resource in shaping the future of our industry.

Best Regards,

David Zobel,

Cary Street Tattoo