Sound Off: Involuntary ear piercing / LJWorld.com

Sound Off

At a local store, a mother was holding a little girl who was throwing a fit while the clerk attempted to pierce her ear. Did the clerk have no legal duty to stop when the little girl was clearly not giving permission?

State law holds the parent responsible, not the clerk, according to a legal specialist at the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. A minor must have written permission from a parent to get a tattoo or a piercing from a licensed professional in the state of Kansas, but there is nothing that says a child must give permission themselves. If the parent were breaking the law, it would be a matter for the police or the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

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superswagg56 4 months, 2 weeks ago

To the person who posed this question: GET A LIFE!!!

gccs14r 4 months, 2 weeks ago

And ignore possible child abuse?

DillonBarnes 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Whether you agree or disagree with piercing a child's ear, I believe it's a far cry from child abuse. When a 2 year old cries because she doesn't want to put on her shoes but her mother makes here, is that child abuse?

Yes, be aware of child abuse, but this sounds like a good time to mind your own business.

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 4 months, 2 weeks ago

So, physical mutilation is the same thing as putting on a pair of shoes? Interesting.

KRichards 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Mutilation? Something 99% of females do is mutilation?

to injure, disfigure, or make imperfect by removing or irreparably damaging parts.

Looks like bozo is wrong again. Surprise.

gccs14r 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Yes, mutilation. Just because it happens a lot doesn't make it not so. Let the kid grow up and make an informed decision.

Kathy Getto 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I agree gccs, just because many women do it doesn't make it any less mutilation.

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 4 months, 2 weeks ago

How about a nose piercing? A tongue stud? Full body tattoo? Would those be acceptable?

KRichards 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Vaccinations?

jafs 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Really? You're equating a medical procedure designed to help prevent illness with ear piercing?

KRichards 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Designed to, but some really believe they don't and might cause more harm than good.

jafs 4 months, 2 weeks ago

People believe all sorts of bizarre things.

KRichards 4 months, 2 weeks ago

That's my point. I would never do this to my child, but to each their own. Go look at cultures in Africa that not only pierce all over their body, but also tattoo faces. Everyone is different.

jafs 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Except that children aren't actually property - they're separate living human beings.

As such, they deserve more respect than being forced to have their ears pierced, even by their own parents, if they don't want to.

Kathy Getto 4 months, 2 weeks ago

It is still mutilation.

Kathy Getto 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Epic fail.

dangerismymiddlename 4 months, 2 weeks ago

LJWorld re-wrote the question. I was there, but I am not the person that sent in the letter.

The child was screaming in terror. She was not simple crying. She was holding her hands over her ears, and her mother was holding her down, so that the clerk could pierce her second ear against her will. I never heard a child that terrified in my entire life.

Her first ear had been pierced the day before, and apparently for whatever reason, that was not a normal experience.

Children only have their parents to protect them, and this child did not.

DRsmith 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Child abuse? Are you serious? I take it you are a big believer in time outs huh?

superswagg56 4 months, 2 weeks ago

SERIOUSLY? And how many children do you have? I'm guessing your next child will be your first child. It's your kind that are authorities, but don't have a clue.

KS 4 months, 2 weeks ago

superwagg56 - you were probably the parent. Poor kid. Let them make the decision when they are older.

superswagg56 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Not the parent. I just think that to call this child abuse is a wee bit of an over reaction.

dangerismymiddlename 4 months, 2 weeks ago

You weren't there, so you don't know,

avarom 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Wonder what Honey Boo-Boo would say??

srj 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Not child abuse, but when I pass a Clarie's and see some one-two year old getting pierced I sake my head.

rlsd 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I agree, let it be a special occasion by choice later in life......but really I suppose not my business. I would never have done that.

KRichards 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I completely disagree with piercing young kid's years, especially before they even can ask for it to be done. However, it is not my business.

KRichards 4 months, 2 weeks ago

ears obviously.

LarryNative 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Busy Body Alert!

jhawkinsf 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I'm concerned about the parent who feeds their child McDonal's twice a week, Wendy's once, Taco Bell once and KFC on Sundays. What department of government do I call?

jafs 4 months, 2 weeks ago

KDCF.

jhawkinsf 4 months, 2 weeks ago

It was a rhetorical question.

jafs 4 months, 1 week ago

That's too bad that you're not actually concerned about those kids then.

jhawkinsf 4 months, 1 week ago

Who said I wasn't concerned? But if I think it's best for a child to get outside in the fresh air and engage in active play while some parent allows their child to sit in the living room and play video games doesn't mean the government should become involved. Ultimately, it's not my business and it's not the government's business, despite my concerns.

CHEEZIT 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! Can't even stand the commercials! Just when you think TV can stoop any lower!!!

PhilChiles 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Well, somebody has to say it: If that child had been armed, this would not have happened.

costello 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Where does it say she was 2?

There was a similar incident in Wichita a few years ago that made the news because someone called the police. In that case the child was 5, and she had been hounding her mom for weeks to get her ears pierced because her older sister had. After the first ear she didn't want to have the second one done. The clerk and the mom were trying to convince her to go ahead with it, when someone called the police.

Dispute erupts at Wal-Mart over ear-piercing of young girl by Associated Press LJWorld.com

As I recall it made the national news and more than one person pointed out that circumcision is just as unnecessary, higher risk, and done on infants without anesthesia.

mom_of_three 4 months, 2 weeks ago

my sister was 5 and begged to have her ears pierced. our grandmother worked at a jewelry store and so they went there to have them done. After having the first one done, she screamed bloody murder and wouldn't let them do the second. not sure how long they tried at the store, but grandma took it home and they finally got it done.

dangerismymiddlename 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I was there, but I am not the person that sent in the letter.

This was a very similar case to what you described.

The child was screaming in terror, and holding her hands over her ears. Her mother was holding her down, so that the clerk could pierce her second ear against her will. I never heard a child that terrified before.

Children only have their parents to protect them, and this child did not. This would have been very different if the mom wasn't holding her down when she was terrified. She would have eventually been calm enough that the mother could have done the piercing for her, but holding her down like that was freaking her out.

As far as the people writing "busybody" are concerned: nobody did anything to the mother for this. A question was simply asked on LJWorld.com. No big deal.

mom_of_three 4 months, 2 weeks ago

My sister screamed in pain, NOT TERROR, because although they told her it would "bite," it was more than she wanted. Once the 2nd one was done, she was fine.

jafs 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Sure, because subjecting a child to unnecessary pain is no big deal.

What's wrong with people?

meatheadwisdom 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I've seen some kids' names that I would classify as abusive too. I submit that we call them all "boy" or "girl" until they reach the age of 5 and can name themselves. My son probably would have named himself "ball" or "sghetti" at that age. Nothing wrong with that...

kernal 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I wouldn't exactly call this child abuse, but some parents need to realize their children are people, not dolls or playthings. Let them wait until they're old enough to make their own decision about having their ears pierced.

akt2 4 months, 2 weeks ago

My daughter's pediatrician talked me out of it when my daughter was a baby. You could have them pierced at the doctor's office. Now she is 17 and doesn't have pierced ears or want pierced ears. She wants to get her nose pierced. Times are a changing.

superswagg56 4 months, 2 weeks ago

People like you never cease to amaze!

Stain 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Piercing the ears of a baby is just horrible. It is child abuse. All for the vanity of a parent.

superswagg56 4 months, 2 weeks ago

And you have how many children?

Katara 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Piercing is a cultural thing and it is a minor procedure.

Personally, I'd prefer to have it done in the doctor's office because if the parents are concerned about pain, the doctor has more tools available (lidocaine cream, etc).

I had mine done at 13. It turns out that I am allergic to lots of metals. :(

jafs 4 months, 1 week ago

I take it that you wanted them done at 13, which is a reasonable age from my point of view.

Sorry about the allergies - can you at least wear sterling silver?

Do you think it's ok for parents to pierce their 5 year old kid's ears even if they don't want them to?

Also, I agree that a doctor's office would be a better idea, with some sort of pain reducing stuff available.

Katara 4 months, 1 week ago

13 was when I was allowed to have them done and I paid for the piercing with the allowance I saved. According to my parents only Gypsies had pierced ears and they felt pierced ears were unseemly. I am certain that my mom talked with other mothers and made the decision to allow me to have them pierced if those mothers thought it okay.

I wanted them for a very long time. Many of the girls in my school had them since at least kindergarten (when I first met them). I was very envious.

I think it is better to pierce them as an infant and if not done then, wait until they want them done. The pain is very little. It is the noise of the piercing gun that is startling more than the actual sting.

I can wear silver and gold without issue. Nickel is an absolute guarantee of a painful blister rash. I also cannot wear anything plated as my skin is acidic enough, it wears away the coating. From what I understand, it is a common allergy.

mikekt 4 months, 1 week ago

Last time that I checked I thought that it was a doctor, who made holes in you for whatever reasons, Ike to fix or remove something, like a cancer .

Now I see that we are having people with little knowledge as an MD or DO might have, making holes in people's ears for jewelery , or drawing Tatooes of their bachelor boyfriends on their backs which will be hard to get off later.

Silly as silly does . Please be safe and get no disease from insanitary needless !

bad_dog 4 months, 1 week ago

"...insanitary needless..."

? Crazy yet unnecessary?

LadyJ 4 months, 1 week ago

Ah, brings back memories of my own daughter who asked a 5 or 6 to have her ears pierced like her friends. After the lady did the first one and she realized it hurt, she started crying and decided she didn't want them pierced after all. We went home with one pierced ear which grew shut. Ten yrs later she again wanted them pierced like her friends, this time was successful. About five yrs later she decided she was tired of messing with them and let them grow shut again.

rduhrich 4 months, 1 week ago

Forcing a child to do something for his or hers own good is one thing. But painfully and permanently maiming the child involuntarily for cosmetic reasons is unmistakeable child abuse. If not, would scarification of the face with a razor be OK? Ask the kid if it hurt? You bet! Piercing my ear hurt like hell.

ljreader 4 months, 1 week ago

Maybe we should wait until boys are old enough to consent to circumcision.

acg 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Ick, it drives me crazy when I see kids with pierced ears. My first thought is, what if that kid grows up and doesn't want pierced ears? Well, too late now! My second thought is, how hard it must be to get them all healed and ready to go. Kids wallow, play, wrestle, squirm and don't pay attention to the little things. I can imagine how much it must hurt the child to turn the earrings twice daily and wipe the area down with alcohol, etc. I can imagine that accidentally ripping them out might be an issue. It's all too much. We should wait and let them make up their own minds, when they're old enough to make an informed choice and old enough to care for them properly.

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