A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Where should the line be drawn?

In follow-up to the conversation on in what context (if any) a “Hitler tattoo” is appropriate, Lane Jensen (iam:inksation) asks,

Does a shop have a moral obligation to turn away serial killer portraits the same way they turn away racist tattoos?

Mike Gibson at Dragon FX who did these Richard Ramirez (the Nightstalker) and Albert Fish portrait tattoos says, “no”.

Comments

268 responses to “Where should the line be drawn?”

  1. IG Avatar
    IG

    Yes. they must.
    think of a vicrtim’s family member seing this tatoo on a person.
    I know if my i saw my daughter’s(tfu tfu tfu) killer tatoo on a man, i would kill him. really.. murder.

  2. IG Avatar
    IG

    Yes. they must.
    think of a vicrtim’s family member seing this tatoo on a person.
    I know if my i saw my daughter’s(tfu tfu tfu) killer tatoo on a man, i would kill him. really.. murder.

  3. IG Avatar
    IG

    Yes. they must.
    think of a vicrtim’s family member seing this tatoo on a person.
    I know if my i saw my daughter’s(tfu tfu tfu) killer tatoo on a man, i would kill him. really.. murder.

  4. IG Avatar
    IG

    Yes. they must.
    think of a vicrtim’s family member seing this tatoo on a person.
    I know if my i saw my daughter’s(tfu tfu tfu) killer tatoo on a man, i would kill him. really.. murder.

  5. Jonathan Piercing Avatar

    My friend Javier from tattoo galery in venezuela, usually refuses to do racists tats…I remember a time ago, a black guy entered to our shop, and said: “Hi, I want a swastik tattooed on my arm”…Javier said: “do you know what does it mean? why do you want this symbol?” he said: “don’t know, is cute”…LOL

  6. Jonathan Piercing Avatar

    My friend Javier from tattoo galery in venezuela, usually refuses to do racists tats…I remember a time ago, a black guy entered to our shop, and said: “Hi, I want a swastik tattooed on my arm”…Javier said: “do you know what does it mean? why do you want this symbol?” he said: “don’t know, is cute”…LOL

  7. Jonathan Piercing Avatar

    My friend Javier from tattoo galery in venezuela, usually refuses to do racists tats…I remember a time ago, a black guy entered to our shop, and said: “Hi, I want a swastik tattooed on my arm”…Javier said: “do you know what does it mean? why do you want this symbol?” he said: “don’t know, is cute”…LOL

  8. Jonathan Piercing Avatar

    My friend Javier from tattoo galery in venezuela, usually refuses to do racists tats…I remember a time ago, a black guy entered to our shop, and said: “Hi, I want a swastik tattooed on my arm”…Javier said: “do you know what does it mean? why do you want this symbol?” he said: “don’t know, is cute”…LOL

  9. trailerparkray Avatar

    its the artists decision, if they feel impartial then they can tattoo what ever they want. it’s the persons choice. one way or another they’ll find a way to get it done.

  10. trailerparkray Avatar

    its the artists decision, if they feel impartial then they can tattoo what ever they want. it’s the persons choice. one way or another they’ll find a way to get it done.

  11. trailerparkray Avatar

    its the artists decision, if they feel impartial then they can tattoo what ever they want. it’s the persons choice. one way or another they’ll find a way to get it done.

  12. trailerparkray Avatar

    its the artists decision, if they feel impartial then they can tattoo what ever they want. it’s the persons choice. one way or another they’ll find a way to get it done.

  13. a.rotten.mind Avatar

    yeah i agree with trailerparkray, if shop a don’t tattoo it shop b may.. so sooner or later you’ll get what you want.

  14. a.rotten.mind Avatar

    yeah i agree with trailerparkray, if shop a don’t tattoo it shop b may.. so sooner or later you’ll get what you want.

  15. a.rotten.mind Avatar

    yeah i agree with trailerparkray, if shop a don’t tattoo it shop b may.. so sooner or later you’ll get what you want.

  16. a.rotten.mind Avatar

    yeah i agree with trailerparkray, if shop a don’t tattoo it shop b may.. so sooner or later you’ll get what you want.

  17. wickedpleasures Avatar
    wickedpleasures

    I agree with trailerparkray. I think it’s the artist’s choice regarding what form of art they will transfer to someone’s skin. I do, however, believe that it isn’t the artist’s place to judge what isn’t going to be on his or her own body forever; rather, make it clear that this isn’t something that he/she typically tattoos and why. That alone may deter the client or send them elsewhere. I believe the same for religious tattoo work.

  18. wickedpleasures Avatar
    wickedpleasures

    I agree with trailerparkray. I think it’s the artist’s choice regarding what form of art they will transfer to someone’s skin. I do, however, believe that it isn’t the artist’s place to judge what isn’t going to be on his or her own body forever; rather, make it clear that this isn’t something that he/she typically tattoos and why. That alone may deter the client or send them elsewhere. I believe the same for religious tattoo work.

  19. wickedpleasures Avatar
    wickedpleasures

    I agree with trailerparkray. I think it’s the artist’s choice regarding what form of art they will transfer to someone’s skin. I do, however, believe that it isn’t the artist’s place to judge what isn’t going to be on his or her own body forever; rather, make it clear that this isn’t something that he/she typically tattoos and why. That alone may deter the client or send them elsewhere. I believe the same for religious tattoo work.

  20. wickedpleasures Avatar
    wickedpleasures

    I agree with trailerparkray. I think it’s the artist’s choice regarding what form of art they will transfer to someone’s skin. I do, however, believe that it isn’t the artist’s place to judge what isn’t going to be on his or her own body forever; rather, make it clear that this isn’t something that he/she typically tattoos and why. That alone may deter the client or send them elsewhere. I believe the same for religious tattoo work.

  21. gracebudd Avatar

    I’m really impressed with the portrait of Albert Fish.
    Controversy aside… its a really amazing piece.

  22. gracebudd Avatar

    I’m really impressed with the portrait of Albert Fish.
    Controversy aside… its a really amazing piece.

  23. gracebudd Avatar

    I’m really impressed with the portrait of Albert Fish.
    Controversy aside… its a really amazing piece.

  24. gracebudd Avatar

    I’m really impressed with the portrait of Albert Fish.
    Controversy aside… its a really amazing piece.

  25. Absinthe Avatar
    Absinthe

    I think that what it boils down to is whether we are at liberty to decide what’s more important, the suppression of taboo or disliked ideas or people for the supposed good of society as a whole or the individual being able to be happy within themselves. I’m not a person that has any desire to get a racist tattoo, or indeed a portrait of a serial killer, however I do think that if I were to get one I’d inspire anyone to go murder someone or pick a fight with another race. And if we are to say that we are morally obligated to stop these kinds of tattoos to be done then we’re allowing the attitudes of a majority to rule over peoples lives. My concern is where this line would stop. I could well see the boundaries being pushed further and further until even tattoos of Reagan from the Exorcist become “morally” wrong.

  26. Absinthe Avatar
    Absinthe

    I think that what it boils down to is whether we are at liberty to decide what’s more important, the suppression of taboo or disliked ideas or people for the supposed good of society as a whole or the individual being able to be happy within themselves. I’m not a person that has any desire to get a racist tattoo, or indeed a portrait of a serial killer, however I do think that if I were to get one I’d inspire anyone to go murder someone or pick a fight with another race. And if we are to say that we are morally obligated to stop these kinds of tattoos to be done then we’re allowing the attitudes of a majority to rule over peoples lives. My concern is where this line would stop. I could well see the boundaries being pushed further and further until even tattoos of Reagan from the Exorcist become “morally” wrong.

  27. Absinthe Avatar
    Absinthe

    I think that what it boils down to is whether we are at liberty to decide what’s more important, the suppression of taboo or disliked ideas or people for the supposed good of society as a whole or the individual being able to be happy within themselves. I’m not a person that has any desire to get a racist tattoo, or indeed a portrait of a serial killer, however I do think that if I were to get one I’d inspire anyone to go murder someone or pick a fight with another race. And if we are to say that we are morally obligated to stop these kinds of tattoos to be done then we’re allowing the attitudes of a majority to rule over peoples lives. My concern is where this line would stop. I could well see the boundaries being pushed further and further until even tattoos of Reagan from the Exorcist become “morally” wrong.

  28. Absinthe Avatar
    Absinthe

    I think that what it boils down to is whether we are at liberty to decide what’s more important, the suppression of taboo or disliked ideas or people for the supposed good of society as a whole or the individual being able to be happy within themselves. I’m not a person that has any desire to get a racist tattoo, or indeed a portrait of a serial killer, however I do think that if I were to get one I’d inspire anyone to go murder someone or pick a fight with another race. And if we are to say that we are morally obligated to stop these kinds of tattoos to be done then we’re allowing the attitudes of a majority to rule over peoples lives. My concern is where this line would stop. I could well see the boundaries being pushed further and further until even tattoos of Reagan from the Exorcist become “morally” wrong.

  29. whitewolf95 Avatar
    whitewolf95

    It is a grey area to be in. I can see both sides. Though I think it would be interesting to find out why one would want a serial killer tattooed on oneself? Is it for shock value? Is it because the idolize the person? There are many questions that come with those kinds of tattoos.
    For me personally I couldnt do it. There is too much baggage tied up in a tattoo like that and hell I got enough of that already.

  30. whitewolf95 Avatar
    whitewolf95

    It is a grey area to be in. I can see both sides. Though I think it would be interesting to find out why one would want a serial killer tattooed on oneself? Is it for shock value? Is it because the idolize the person? There are many questions that come with those kinds of tattoos.
    For me personally I couldnt do it. There is too much baggage tied up in a tattoo like that and hell I got enough of that already.

  31. whitewolf95 Avatar
    whitewolf95

    It is a grey area to be in. I can see both sides. Though I think it would be interesting to find out why one would want a serial killer tattooed on oneself? Is it for shock value? Is it because the idolize the person? There are many questions that come with those kinds of tattoos.
    For me personally I couldnt do it. There is too much baggage tied up in a tattoo like that and hell I got enough of that already.

  32. whitewolf95 Avatar
    whitewolf95

    It is a grey area to be in. I can see both sides. Though I think it would be interesting to find out why one would want a serial killer tattooed on oneself? Is it for shock value? Is it because the idolize the person? There are many questions that come with those kinds of tattoos.
    For me personally I couldnt do it. There is too much baggage tied up in a tattoo like that and hell I got enough of that already.

  33. Stan Avatar

    Well, a Rule of Thumb here might be that a killer like Richard Ramirez, who many living people remember, would be off-limits. But Albert Fish might be all right, since all his contemporaries are gone now. But as people have noted, it’s difficult to make a good determination here.

  34. Stan Avatar

    Well, a Rule of Thumb here might be that a killer like Richard Ramirez, who many living people remember, would be off-limits. But Albert Fish might be all right, since all his contemporaries are gone now. But as people have noted, it’s difficult to make a good determination here.

  35. Stan Avatar

    Well, a Rule of Thumb here might be that a killer like Richard Ramirez, who many living people remember, would be off-limits. But Albert Fish might be all right, since all his contemporaries are gone now. But as people have noted, it’s difficult to make a good determination here.

  36. Stan Avatar

    Well, a Rule of Thumb here might be that a killer like Richard Ramirez, who many living people remember, would be off-limits. But Albert Fish might be all right, since all his contemporaries are gone now. But as people have noted, it’s difficult to make a good determination here.

  37. DragoBloodlust Avatar
    DragoBloodlust

    Whats the difference between getting a tattoo of a serial killer than, say a tattoo of the devil? Both are evil images. A religious Judeo-Christian person might be offended by a Satanic image, yet hundreds of artists ink demons and devils everyday.

    My wife is planning to start a leg sleeve of serial killers. Not because she idolizes murderers or condones murder; but because she is fascinated (as am I) by what they represent: A normal person who has snapped. What causes an average person to wake uyp one morning and decide to start offing people (who almost always have a very obvious connecting trait) the same way everytime? Its a fascinating study, so why not express it in ink?

    I think a symbol or picture of a serial killer or other “evil” person is still better and more interesting that seeing the same old boring butterfly and rose tattoos all the time.

  38. DragoBloodlust Avatar
    DragoBloodlust

    Whats the difference between getting a tattoo of a serial killer than, say a tattoo of the devil? Both are evil images. A religious Judeo-Christian person might be offended by a Satanic image, yet hundreds of artists ink demons and devils everyday.

    My wife is planning to start a leg sleeve of serial killers. Not because she idolizes murderers or condones murder; but because she is fascinated (as am I) by what they represent: A normal person who has snapped. What causes an average person to wake uyp one morning and decide to start offing people (who almost always have a very obvious connecting trait) the same way everytime? Its a fascinating study, so why not express it in ink?

    I think a symbol or picture of a serial killer or other “evil” person is still better and more interesting that seeing the same old boring butterfly and rose tattoos all the time.

  39. DragoBloodlust Avatar
    DragoBloodlust

    Whats the difference between getting a tattoo of a serial killer than, say a tattoo of the devil? Both are evil images. A religious Judeo-Christian person might be offended by a Satanic image, yet hundreds of artists ink demons and devils everyday.

    My wife is planning to start a leg sleeve of serial killers. Not because she idolizes murderers or condones murder; but because she is fascinated (as am I) by what they represent: A normal person who has snapped. What causes an average person to wake uyp one morning and decide to start offing people (who almost always have a very obvious connecting trait) the same way everytime? Its a fascinating study, so why not express it in ink?

    I think a symbol or picture of a serial killer or other “evil” person is still better and more interesting that seeing the same old boring butterfly and rose tattoos all the time.

  40. DragoBloodlust Avatar
    DragoBloodlust

    Whats the difference between getting a tattoo of a serial killer than, say a tattoo of the devil? Both are evil images. A religious Judeo-Christian person might be offended by a Satanic image, yet hundreds of artists ink demons and devils everyday.

    My wife is planning to start a leg sleeve of serial killers. Not because she idolizes murderers or condones murder; but because she is fascinated (as am I) by what they represent: A normal person who has snapped. What causes an average person to wake uyp one morning and decide to start offing people (who almost always have a very obvious connecting trait) the same way everytime? Its a fascinating study, so why not express it in ink?

    I think a symbol or picture of a serial killer or other “evil” person is still better and more interesting that seeing the same old boring butterfly and rose tattoos all the time.

  41. Zoe Avatar
    Zoe

    An artist can tattoo or not tattoo whatever they want. Freedom of expression.

    Not that I indentify with this person, though.

  42. Zoe Avatar
    Zoe

    An artist can tattoo or not tattoo whatever they want. Freedom of expression.

    Not that I indentify with this person, though.

  43. Zoe Avatar
    Zoe

    An artist can tattoo or not tattoo whatever they want. Freedom of expression.

    Not that I indentify with this person, though.

  44. Zoe Avatar
    Zoe

    An artist can tattoo or not tattoo whatever they want. Freedom of expression.

    Not that I indentify with this person, though.

  45. catsey Avatar
    catsey

    As with all other topics that can be brought into a tattoo design, I guess the artist will have to think to themselves, “If I turn away this type of work, why don’ I turn away this type?” The whole, if this pushes the limist for then, why? And if so, what else could be considered the same.
    Any case, I feel the artist should just accept payment and move on, these people are the ones who will have these potraits on them forever, not they.

  46. catsey Avatar
    catsey

    As with all other topics that can be brought into a tattoo design, I guess the artist will have to think to themselves, “If I turn away this type of work, why don’ I turn away this type?” The whole, if this pushes the limist for then, why? And if so, what else could be considered the same.
    Any case, I feel the artist should just accept payment and move on, these people are the ones who will have these potraits on them forever, not they.

  47. catsey Avatar
    catsey

    As with all other topics that can be brought into a tattoo design, I guess the artist will have to think to themselves, “If I turn away this type of work, why don’ I turn away this type?” The whole, if this pushes the limist for then, why? And if so, what else could be considered the same.
    Any case, I feel the artist should just accept payment and move on, these people are the ones who will have these potraits on them forever, not they.

  48. catsey Avatar
    catsey

    As with all other topics that can be brought into a tattoo design, I guess the artist will have to think to themselves, “If I turn away this type of work, why don’ I turn away this type?” The whole, if this pushes the limist for then, why? And if so, what else could be considered the same.
    Any case, I feel the artist should just accept payment and move on, these people are the ones who will have these potraits on them forever, not they.

  49. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    The leg sleeve was my idea ..i had been looking for a worthy person to wear it for a few years and when i ran the idea by my friend he loved it . so we planed out thirteen killers so there are eleven more to come .
    i dont think it is any different than doing a tattoo of Stalin or Patton or Napolion or even Bush! We are marking events in history nothing more (our vision is just a bit of a twisted one)

  50. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    The leg sleeve was my idea ..i had been looking for a worthy person to wear it for a few years and when i ran the idea by my friend he loved it . so we planed out thirteen killers so there are eleven more to come .
    i dont think it is any different than doing a tattoo of Stalin or Patton or Napolion or even Bush! We are marking events in history nothing more (our vision is just a bit of a twisted one)

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