A note to our readers under 18: you should have gotten that nipple piercing last week with your cousin Duane, because now you need a permission slip. Today Governor Cuomo signed a bill requiring parental consent before having a needle jammed into your skin so you can insert a metal loop or one of those sweet barbell thingys inside of it. "Body piercing can result in severe health risks and it is our obligation as New Yorkers and parents to make sure that our teens are taking every precaution to remain healthy and safe," Cuomo said in a statement, referring to the practice that instantly makes you look edgy and cool, like a real adult.
The impetus behind the legislation is to "better protect teens from infections and blood-borne disease[s]." Those who just want to get their boring ears pierced and look like a boring old Mom won't need parental permission: "body piercing" applies to everything else except ear piercing, so go on ahead and get your Dad to drive you to Claire's or wherever and get the widdle needle stuck in your ear.
