Cows of Jackson Hole, Rejoice!

Terri Gregory, the Public Health Manager for the Teton County Board of Health (Jackson Hole, WY to you and me) has decided to ban tongue and genital (owwwwww) piercing as well as branding, lacing, and scarification (though I'm sure the cows are happy to hear about the branding part).

Say's Jackson Hole's only tatoo/piercing parlor, Sub-Urban Clothing Tattoo's Susan Woodward,

But I'm incredibly disappointed more than anything. I still don’t understand their rationale behind the ban. There isn’t any information showing there is risk factor problem here. No statistical evidence. It is pre-emptive.

"Pre-emptive" she says. Hah, what a conspiracy theorist. For a counter, let's turn to City of Casper-Natrona County Health Department Environmental Health Specialist Ruth Heald

We did it as more of a pre-emptive move. We had the impression that it was too invasive and had high potential for infection.

Ummm, oh. Well, lets turn to Ms Gregory,

We looked at medical information both pro and con. With tattoos, there is much less health risk than, say, tongue piercing. From a nursing standpoint, the deeper you are penetrating, the greater the risk."

How much greater? How much more risk? Also, can I assume that this means that all forms of elective procedures that go deeper than tattoos will soon be banned?

I leave the final word to Ms Woodward.

The problem with banning is we have already seen home brandings and piercings being done...It won't stop it. It will make people do it in an unsanitary environment.

And she's right. Is this really a necessary rule? Is it a good rule? Is it an effective rule? I say no to all three. Banning popular things doesn't stop them. Taking piercing and the like underground only makes the risk of infection and harm greater. In the end, this rule creates exactly what Ms Gregory says she wants to avoid. Just like most laws in the nanny state.