“Versus” is a little misleading for the title, because Troy’s been working not against the government, but with it, as a lobbyist for the body art industry. Marisa from Needled had a chance to interview Troy about his efforts for her Legal Link column. Click on Troy to jump to the interview now.
Troy Amundson vs. The Government
Written by
Latest Tattoo, Piercing, and Body Modification News
- Skin and Strings: The Art of Human Puppetryby JonathonOne of the most powerful things about being at a convention like OSC is the sheer concentration of experience, creativity, and capability in one place. When you’re surrounded by people who not only understand the technical complexities of suspension but are excited by the challenge… Read more: Skin and Strings: The Art of Human Puppetry
- Twelve Points to the Skyby JonathonThere’s a particular kind of magic that happens at your first big suspension gathering when you arrive with nerves, an open heart, and the quiet hope of flight. Guided by the encouragement of mentor Lynn Loheide and driven by the quiet confidence of belonging, Alex… Read more: Twelve Points to the Sky
- Ontario SusCon 2025by JonathonIn March 2025, BME attended the Ontario Suspension Convention in Hamilton, hosted by the Kevin Donaghy and the Ontario Suspension Collective. We had the pleasure to take part and help document the event, but also run a booth to sell a bunch of old (but… Read more: Ontario SusCon 2025
- Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezineby NefDear BME Community, We’ve been gone far too long, but BME is back to give people a voice, a space, a community. With time everything evolves, and BME may be different than you remember. Our goal is to stay true to Shannon and Rachel’s values… Read more: Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezine
- BME Social Mediaby NefWord of mouth has been our method of reuniting the community, and it has brought a substantial amount of us together. I am inspired by your loyalty and I want to remind more people of BME’s existence. In 2020 we gained control over @bmezine on… Read more: BME Social Media
- BMEShopby NefDespite the hurricanes in 2015 which destroyed almost all of what Rachel owned, she managed to save the original inventory from BME. We have relisted some of the stock on BMEShop.com with the hopes you may be interested. Our first drop includes a selection of… Read more: BMEShop
Comments
34 responses to “Troy Amundson vs. The Government”
Brilliant work, my thumbs up for this guy.
Brilliant work, my thumbs up for this guy.
Nice. Thank you to Troy for the continued hard work (I know how frustrating lobbying can be!), and Marisa for the fine article. I’m very happy to be seeing a broader variety of articles hitting the front page.
Nice. Thank you to Troy for the continued hard work (I know how frustrating lobbying can be!), and Marisa for the fine article. I’m very happy to be seeing a broader variety of articles hitting the front page.
This makes me extremely happy. People need to learn more about the modifacation ‘industry’. Instead of just viewing people with mods as freaks, maybe he will help them see it as art…all while doing it safe and sanitary. yay for Troy.
This makes me extremely happy. People need to learn more about the modifacation ‘industry’. Instead of just viewing people with mods as freaks, maybe he will help them see it as art…all while doing it safe and sanitary. yay for Troy.
thumbs up mate.
thumbs up mate.
Thanks, Shannon, for posting!
Thanks, Shannon, for posting!
I loved this interview. He’s obviously a very intelligent man and I’m glad he’s educating other lobbyists and officials. Great job!
I loved this interview. He’s obviously a very intelligent man and I’m glad he’s educating other lobbyists and officials. Great job!
This is great. Education is the single best step to changing perceptions and politicians often seem to need a lot of education.
This is great. Education is the single best step to changing perceptions and politicians often seem to need a lot of education.
Hey I know him. Awesome interview Troy, and I don’t think I even need to say I appreciate all your hard work.
Hey I know him. Awesome interview Troy, and I don’t think I even need to say I appreciate all your hard work.
Thumbs up to troy for standing up for our rights!
Thumbs up to troy for standing up for our rights!
i’m have never really taken the time to understand the inner workings of the US goverment, (or my own for that matter, I’m Canadian) but I found the artical easy to understand and quiet informative! Interesting even. It’s inspired me to take a closer look at the political side of things in our industry up here.
Thanks for the post!
i’m have never really taken the time to understand the inner workings of the US goverment, (or my own for that matter, I’m Canadian) but I found the artical easy to understand and quiet informative! Interesting even. It’s inspired me to take a closer look at the political side of things in our industry up here.
Thanks for the post!
troy is a great guy. i spoke with him last year as he picked my brain about what i was already doing for legislation in my area.
i’ve done as much as troy has for my own states legislation. i’ve worked since ’97 trying to get our laws into effect. i started lobbying just over three years ago and was able to get the bill passed that created our current laws. i was then hired by the state to write the details of ourinspections and such. after that i was hired to be a state board representative, as well as hired to be a state health inspector, both positions i still currently and actively do. i also currently help to train doctors. for the last two years i have been called on, and paid respectably, to lecture third year medical grad school students from creighton university (a very prestigious med school). i’m also currently working with several piercers from several different states to help make changes in their areas.
keep up the good work troy!
troy is a great guy. i spoke with him last year as he picked my brain about what i was already doing for legislation in my area.
i’ve done as much as troy has for my own states legislation. i’ve worked since ’97 trying to get our laws into effect. i started lobbying just over three years ago and was able to get the bill passed that created our current laws. i was then hired by the state to write the details of ourinspections and such. after that i was hired to be a state board representative, as well as hired to be a state health inspector, both positions i still currently and actively do. i also currently help to train doctors. for the last two years i have been called on, and paid respectably, to lecture third year medical grad school students from creighton university (a very prestigious med school). i’m also currently working with several piercers from several different states to help make changes in their areas.
keep up the good work troy!
hey I think that it is great what you are doing, power to you. hopefully you shall win this battle but be carfull I’ve gone up against some gov. people here in VT and they are sly they aren’t afraid to fight dirty and even lie quite a bit. Best of luck to you.
Kate Parzych
hey I think that it is great what you are doing, power to you. hopefully you shall win this battle but be carfull I’ve gone up against some gov. people here in VT and they are sly they aren’t afraid to fight dirty and even lie quite a bit. Best of luck to you.
Kate Parzych
Thank you, Marisa and Shannon for the opportunity to share my experience. And thank you all for the love. I am humbled. I could not have done it alone. I will continue to do what I can to advocate for safe and healthy body art.
Thank you, Marisa and Shannon for the opportunity to share my experience. And thank you all for the love. I am humbled. I could not have done it alone. I will continue to do what I can to advocate for safe and healthy body art.
I am completely impressed and excited about the medical kit training health care professionals. I am a physician assistant student soon to graduate. I have been on many rotations and at each one I take my knowledge about tattoos and piercings. so far at 3 of my 6 rotations, the department had me do a mini lecture on piercings, tattoos, complications and how to approach the situation. the kit and DVDs just makes me that much happier that others not in the healthcare world have a big voice. Keep it up.
I am completely impressed and excited about the medical kit training health care professionals. I am a physician assistant student soon to graduate. I have been on many rotations and at each one I take my knowledge about tattoos and piercings. so far at 3 of my 6 rotations, the department had me do a mini lecture on piercings, tattoos, complications and how to approach the situation. the kit and DVDs just makes me that much happier that others not in the healthcare world have a big voice. Keep it up.
Great talking with you Troy last year at the APP conference! Feb 27 2007 City Council here in Lancaster City (Pennsylvania) passed an ordinance that now requires licensure requirments before any person can operate a tattoo or body piercing studio. It was a little rough getting the Mayor’s approval since he felt it should be on a state level issue not the city’s level. Persistance paid off & PA is now a smaller step closer to having statewide licensure requirements in place.
Great talking with you Troy last year at the APP conference! Feb 27 2007 City Council here in Lancaster City (Pennsylvania) passed an ordinance that now requires licensure requirments before any person can operate a tattoo or body piercing studio. It was a little rough getting the Mayor’s approval since he felt it should be on a state level issue not the city’s level. Persistance paid off & PA is now a smaller step closer to having statewide licensure requirements in place.
i love troy. he truly is a man with a drive, i know. he is as caring and sincere as this article shows. i am happy to see the progression of something i saw in the begining going so far. thank you troy and all those seattle area locals helping.
i love troy. he truly is a man with a drive, i know. he is as caring and sincere as this article shows. i am happy to see the progression of something i saw in the begining going so far. thank you troy and all those seattle area locals helping.
Troy is amazing. He’s taught me a lot. If only it were easier to get more involved; everyone in every state who works in the industry has a stake in what happens.
Troy is amazing. He’s taught me a lot. If only it were easier to get more involved; everyone in every state who works in the industry has a stake in what happens.