You know those decisions you wish you could take back? Washington D.C.’s Department of Health is trying to prevent that from happening by implementing a 24-hour waiting period before getting a tattoo or body piercing.

If this becomes law, residents will be told they have to wait 24 hours from the time they walk into the shop to get either a tattoo or piercing.

“We’re making sure when that decision is made that you’re in the right frame of mind, and you don’t wake up in the morning…saying, ‘Oh my God, what happened? remarked Washington D.C. Health Department spokesperson Najma Roberts defending the policy.

Has the government overstepped their boundaries by controlling too much of the citizens lives? Should these decisions and consequences be left up to the people?

“It has good intentions, but sometimes making mistakes is part of being young. I think that the law takes that away, said VHS graduate Alex Sniatkowski, who now attends college in D.C., at Catholic University.

Citizens of D.C. have told various news outlets that they feel it is their right to get a tattoo whenever they want and the government has no right to step into the lives of private citizens and dictate what they do. Meanwhile health officials claim they are trying to help people by preventing those who are under the influence from doing something they will regret.

“Why not 24 hours waiting time before shaving your head?” argued Paul Roe, a tattoo shop owner in D.C, to the Washington Post.

Many people have expressed their anger in the Washington Post, especially owners of tattoo and piercing parlors around the city who are outraged over the proposed policy claiming that it will ruin their businesses. Roe also claimed that the overregulation could make tattoos more dangerous or even kill the profession, if people are forced to find other, possibly unsafe ways to get their body art done.

These shops thrive on people who walk in wanting a tattoo and walk out some time later with what they wanted; very rarely do people schedule appointments to come in at a later date.

In the United States when someone turns 18 they are considered an adult, and in order to get a tattoo without a parent’s consent one must be 18.  D.C. resident Marcela Onyango told the Washington Post she believes that this is about an adult who is making a decision, and adults should be allowed to make their own decisions without the government regulating them,

“I understand what they are trying to prevent but they are overregulating the citizens of Washington D.C.” said Verona High School Senior Chloe Strippoli.

The policy has caused a stir but people may not have to worry. It has not yet been passed and a representative of Washington D.C. mayor Pedro Ribeiro said to the Post that the mayor “has serious doubts about the regulations as proposed.”