"Don't receive a piercing from a piercing gun." This statement was issued recently by the Mayo Clinic. However, despite the overwhelming evidence against the use of piercing guns, North Dakota has yet to pass true legislation banning or even regulating their use.

Although federal law states that they're to be used solely for ear lobe piercings, many salons and shops continue to pierce cartilage, eyebrows, navels, and even nostrils with guns, free of penalties.

There are multiple reasons for the regulation or banning of piercing guns. Piercing guns can put clients in direct contact with the body fluids of previous clients.

Plastic piercing guns cannot be autoclave sterilized and often are not cleaned between clients. Even if the antiseptic wipes used were able to kill all pathogens on contact, simply wiping the surfaces with isopropyl alcohol or other antiseptics does not kill pathogens within the working parts of the gun. Blood from one client can become airborne in microscopic particles and contaminate the inside of the gun. There is thus a possibility of transmitting blood-borne disease-causing microorganisms through such ear piercing, as many medical studies report. For example, the hepatitis virus may live up to seven days in open air.

Piercing guns are also known to cause significant tissue damage. Medically, this type of piercing would be referred to as "blunt force trauma." One of the main disadvantages to using such a blunt object is that often the pressure from the gun is not enough to fully pierce.

Therefore, the gun operator is forced to push the stud through manually, causing greater trauma to the piercing site. Piercing guns can also cause severe scarring to occur. Apart from the use of piercing guns, most studs are not made of materials certified by the FDA as safe.

While I firmly believe that everyone can choose whether or not they want to be pierced, everyone should have the right to a safe and sterile piercing experience. Despite the efforts of some local piercing studios, very little is being done to restrict their use. It is my sincere hope that here in North Dakota we make an attempt at being progressive and make it known that our community's safety is a priority.