The Gadsden Flag

The popularity of Don’t Tread on Me tattoos is growing as fast as the federal budget. Well, almost. Here are some that Gadsden.info readers have been sending me this Spring.

The following bad-ass tat belongs to “Rock ‘n’ Roll Junky,” a police officer in New Jersey. He writes, “I am a devout patriot who holds traditional views of our country and what it stands for. The tattoo is a representation of all the dedication put forth by fellow patriots in fighting against tyranny and oppression. It is also a symbol of my oath to carry on the legacy of justice for the American people in preserving its liberties from enemies both foreign and domestic.” The ink was done by “Tattoo Tommy” of Jersey Tattoo.

This one belongs to Rogers1270. “I was in search of the perfect tattoo and was inspired by one on your site. … This is my small thanks to my nephew who is currently kicking ass and taking names for our freedom in Afghanistan.” A rattlesnake wasn’t fierce enough for him, apparently, so with the help of Steve at The Quillian in Allentown, PA, it became a cobra.

Rick Beedle from Tucson, Arizona — one of my favorite cities — “got the tattoo because I thought it fit the mood we are all in regarding the so called ‘leaders’. About time we all woke up and be heard. Will be attending our Tea Party meeting in Tucson in April. Think that says it all. Term limits should be our theme.”

They just get better and better. I love this one. Craig P. has “been a Second Amendment rights supporter for years and had been thinking about getting a tattoo for that purpose. But with the current government situation we have it now has a lot more meaning then originaly anticipated.”

Mike Young and his friend Jeff are in a California motorcycle riding group (not club) called the Gadsden Riders.

In April they were at the annual Yuma Prison Run, Mike writes, “when Jeff and I finally dicided that this was the perfect time to get our Gadsden tattoos. The guys from Electric Budda Tattoo from Yuma, AZ had a vendor spot again this year and did a good job on my last tatt, so we hit them up again. I think he did a pretty good job considering he was working out in the heat with the dust blowing around.”

Austin H. is an Air Force Major with “a deep love for liberty, freedom, and my country.” The creative variations on the Gadsden art people send continues to impress me. I love the use of the red-white-and-blue on Austin’s. In case it’s not clear from the photo: the rattlesnake is wrapped around a cannon firing a cannonball. He says he’s planning to have DTOM or “Liberty or Death” added below the snake soon.

Here’s a unique Gadsden tattoo. Kevin from Dallas writes, “I am a Texan through and through, it will always be a part of me, so I chose to have the Gadsden snake over the Texas flag. The Gadsden snake reminds me to not compromise my values for anyone, or let anyone influence me in a negative way.” His ink was done at Trilogy Tattoo, in Memphis, TN, last Saturday.

Anthony Welton and his buddy Travis DeMoss from Ada, OK got the following tattoos a couple months ago. Anthony writes, “Mine [on the left] was done at Jombus Ink and his [on the right] was done at Poison Apple, both in Ada. We were actually both going to get Gadsden tattoos until my fiancée found the Georgia $20 and I fell in love with it.”

Donald Weeks got this beauty at Tattoo Lou’s of Selden, New York. “I began flying this flag the day after election day 2008. I believe it represents the Freedom and Liberty that many brave men and women gave up their lives so we could live in the greatest nation in the world.”

You’ll notice that Donald and Anthony, as well as some others I’ve featured here in the past, have included the motto “nemo me impune lacessit” on their tattoo. This is Latin for, approximately, “no one wounds me with impunity.” It’s been used in Scotland as early as 1707 and as Anthony mentioned it was used in America in various ways including on the Georgia $20 bill.

Jared S. got this tattoo when “when I came home from college this year. It took 3 1/2 hours. I’m not in any military or political group. I just love my country and that’s why I got this tattoo.” The Latin motto here is Veritas (truth), Aesquitas (justice), Libertas (freedom).

Adam from Pennsylvania got the following hardcore combination of tattoos after attending a Tea Party protest. “I am 39 and I have been following politics for most of my life. When the Department of Homeland Security came out with a report saying that returning military memebers, NRA members, and people with ‘Dont Tread On Me’ bumper stickers and flags were more of a threat to our Country than the terrorists I thought to myself, ‘What would they think of a man with ‘Dont Tread On Me’ tattooed on his body? … This was the day before the tea parties, so I went to our local tea party. It was freezing cold and raining, about 600 people showed up. I feel that it was one of the most important things I’ve ever done. That day I knew I had to get my tattoo.”