No matter why they do it King doesn't want his kids to see it from their own backyard, porch or even kitchen window. "I don't know why their right to do this should extend to a public open space and force me to keep my children inside my house because it’s something I don't want them to see,” King said. He says he would support regulations on who can perform suspensions and where.
Taylor says he would support regulations that involve health concerns such as using sterilized equipment. They say their group uses a licensed piercer and are trained in cross contamination and bio-hazardous materials. “How are you going to regulate something someone is doing in their backyard?” Taylor questioned. “It’s along the same lines as if your neighbors are vegetarians and you are having a BBQ in your backyard. What right do they have to tell you to stop, just because it's something they don't understand or disagree with.”
According to Assistant Director of Health Clay Goddard, there are not any state laws or local ordinances that specifically regulate suspensions. “We are in the initial stages of doing research,” Goddard said. “Other communities do regulate extreme body modifications because of concerns about bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases.”
“I'm not saying you can't do it but let's do it in places where you are already licensed to practice body piercing, body modifications or other body art,” King said. “Don't bring it into the neighborhood where someone is going to unknowingly come along and see it. I don't think anybody should be forced into watching this activity if they don't want to.”
“Safety regulations from the state should be to protect the people suspending not the onlookers,” Taylor said. “If you don't want to look, don't look.” The group does perform acts intended to shock their audience inside local bars that have age limitations. They say when they are performing suspensions at private homes it is meant to be a personal experience. “We are not out there to shock your children,” Atkinson said. “We are not there to put this out in your face and say ‘hey look at us.’”
Health officials prepared a list of possible regulations on suspensions used by other communities. City councilman Nick Ibarra asked the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would address concerns. “I don’t want to infringe on anyone’s private property rights but there is a delicate balance between their rights and the rights of kids to not be afraid to go in their own backyard,” Ibarra said. He says he will meet with individuals on both sides of the issue as well as local tattoo and piercing artists. Ibarra says he could have a draft of the ordinance as early as next week. A public hearing would be held. City council members would ultimately decide if they want to pass an ordinance.
At least one county has banned suspensions to prevent the spread of diseases. Anoka County, Minnesota, passed an ordinance last year that also bans branding, cutting, implantation and scarification.
*Two photographs provided by photographer Brenna Harrison
