Tattoo Studio Owner Needles Lawton Council
By Vallery Brown
Published: April 7, 2009

LAWTON, OK — An embattled tattoo studio owner is still fighting to expand his business and says city council members are unlawfully restricting him.

The council is scheduled to meet in executive session April 14 to discuss a potential lawsuit that shop owner Mike Evans, 33, is threatening to file if a restriction is not removed from the city code.

At issue is a state law banning tattoo studios within 1,000 feet of a church, school or playground. The law was ruled unconstitutional by an Oklahoma County judge in 2007, but Evans was denied an occupancy permit in November. City officials say his shop is too close to a church.

Assistant City Manager Bryan Long said in November: “To our understanding, one judge in Oklahoma County ruled it unconstitutional.”

Evans’ attorney, Sam Talley, said the city is enforcing the rule unequally because another shop was allowed to open despite not being in compliance.

Evans said he’s lost more than $130,000 and is missing one of the year’s best tattoo seasons — tax time.

Source : NewsOK