Gun Tattoo

[Bazile]

Should a fuss be made about this tattoo ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44285455


//Lucy Cope, who founded group Mothers Against Guns after her son was shot dead in 2012, said Sterling should not play for England unless he gets rid of the tattoo.

Speaking to the Sun newspaper, she said: "This tattoo is disgusting. Raheem should hang his head in shame. It's totally unacceptable.

"We demand he has the tattoo lasered off or covered up with a different tattoo.

"If he refuses he should be dropped from the England team. He's supposed to be a role model but chooses to glamorise guns."//


Raheem says
//“When I was two my father died from being gunned down to death,” the 23-year-old said. “I made a promise to myself I would never touch a gun in my life time, I shoot with my right foot so it has a deeper meaning.”//

What's your position ?

[Old_Geezer]

Nobody's business but his own. Doesn't prevent him being good at football: if he is of a mind to mar his skin that's his option. It's not as if it's offensive.

[jackthehat]

"Not terribly bright footballer with more money than sense gets tattoo without thinking it through properly"..........hmmmm.

I think Lucy Cope is insisting a little further than is practicable. Sterling should certianly be encouraged to keep his socks pulled up when he is actually on the pitch, though.

[Baldric]

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1608647.html

[youngmafbog]

Agree with JTH.

Be good if all England players pulled their socks up too :-)

[rowanwitch]

His socks should hide it when playing, and he could have chosen a smaller one something his management team should have picked up on.

[vulcan42]

Flesh coloured tights. In all honesty it's nothing to do with anybody else.

[jno]

a tattoo's only private when it's covered up; if it's showing, it's as public as walking round with a sandwich board, and people are entitled to take notice.

[Cloverjo]

I thought all footballers wear knee-high socks on the pitch anyway.

[baza]

What a twerp, " my father died from being gunned down to death" , not many people survive being shot to death, I hope he is better at football than he is at English/

[Gromit]

His dad was shot so he has a gun tattoo.

Lucky his dad wasn’t run over by a double-decker bus.

[ToraToraTora]

standard moronic soccer player, they'll be home after 3 games anyway, we are totally tish these days.

[andy-hughes]

I don't believe anyone can dictate to anyone else how they wear their body art, and what it should be.

I appreciate the lady's objection, but ironically, the tattoo appears to be worn for the same reasons that the lady is raising her objections, and for the same reasons - personal experience of what guns do to families.

[ToraToraTora]

so his dad got shot so he's celebrating guns? right oh!

[hereIam]

Seems odd to me that if his Dad was gunned down he would want a gun tattoo, surely a tattoo of his Dad would be more appropriate ? I'm with Lucy.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't feel it's a wise choice, but I certainly haven't read where Raheem has described this as a celebration.

His actions should speak louder than his ink, I'll judge him more by those.

[andy-hughes]

TTT - // so his dad got shot so he's celebrating guns? right oh! //

I can't see the mention of 'celebration' anywhere in Mr Sterling's explanation about his tattoo - but as fine example of the 'So' Rule, your post is wonderful!

[ToraToraTora]

have a day off AH he's got an AK47 tattooed on his leg, people often have tattoos to celebrate events. eg birth of a child etc.

[Peter Pedant]

// "Not terribly bright footballer with more money than sense gets tattoo //

yeah when asked if it were loaded - he said
No- but I am loaded ....

[Guilbert53]

This whole tattoo thing is getting stupid (not just this persons tattoos, all tattoos).

We all have relatives who have died in one way or another, does not mean we have get a tattoo done to remember them.

I this case it is particularly stupid.

We have enough trouble with guns in this country, particularly from certain ethnic groups!

So we don't need to be "promoting" them (guns).

If I was a sponsor of this player, or his team (Man C), or England, I would not want my product linked to him.

Personally I think he should be thrown out the England squad till it is removed.

If he wont remove it then don't pick him.

Guns are very serious matter and this tattoo makes them seem very trivial.

Idiot.

[saintpeter48]

He's a fool.
Why would he want a gun tattooed on his leg because his dad was shot, surely just his dads name or picture would've been a far better choice.
Too young, too much money and not enough brains!!