White supremacist wants his swastika tattoo altered before he enters prison

Daniel Cowart asks for tattoo alteration

The lawyer for a Bells man who faces sentencing in a plot to kill more than 100 black people, including President Barack Obama, has filed a motion asking that he be transported to the Madison County Jail for tattoo alteration before he is sent to federal prison.

Daniel Cowart, 21, pleaded guilty in March to eight federal charges including threatening to kill Obama — who was a candidate for president at the time authorities discovered the plot — and transporting firearms, ammunition and a short-barreled shotgun in interstate commerce for the purpose of committing robberies, burglaries and murders.

Cowart and Paul Schlesselman, of Helena-West Helena, Ark., were arrested in October 2008 and charged with planning a multistate robbery and killing spree, which would end in an attempt to kill Obama.

Schlesselman was sentenced to 10 years, and Cowart faces a possible 12- to 18-year sentence at a hearing scheduled for Aug. 13.

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Pictures of Cowart show he has at least two large tattoos — a swastika on his right shoulder and an iron cross on the left side of his chest.

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The government's response asks that Cowart not be granted transport, arguing that giving Cowart special permission to undergo voluntary cosmetic surgery would cause several problems for the U.S. Marshals Service.

So what do you think? Should tax dollars be used to help this guy get cosmetic surgery to cover up what he got when he was not incarcerated?

To me, he had freedom of expression which meant he could get those tattoos. Now that he has lost his freedom, he has to live with the consequences of that speech, because we aren't about to carry him around just so he can amend his previous "speech." If he had chosen to do this while he was free, fine. But the US Marshals aren't a taxi service.

ink up. live with it ... or pay for removal YOURSELF.

why should the state or taxpayers be tasked with paying for, expending resources, time and/or efforts for the same ?

Given that prison populations divide themselves up by race autonomously he's better off leaving the tattoo and getting in with the local white supremacist clique for reasons of relative safety.

I'd have to think that if I was about to be sent to some "pound me in the ass" prison the very first thing I'd do is get a nazi tattoo and make friends with the skin heads. If I didn't do that there is a very high probability I would end up killed by some other race based group or raped to death because of my unaffiliated and weak position.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

The ink is his problem not the taxpayers!
What a chicken! Those types are proud of their ink, even in the pen. With a little luck the AB will take care of him for not wanting to display his allegiance.
Good riddance

I think that the guy's an idiot, and a part of me does agree with the sentiment of "Well, you should have thought of that before you got the tattoo. . ."

However:

. . .has filed a motion asking that he be transported to the Madison County Jail for tattoo alteration before he is sent to federal prison.

It sounds like they would be transporting him to a facility where they already tattoo removal. It's not like they're sending him to his personal artist for an afternoon.

You can at least see why it would be a good idea to get rid of a racial tattoo before going to prison. Is it going to cause more trouble among the inmates than it is worth? Might it just be easier to let him remove it?

The state already pays for the removal of tattoos, especially controversial ones. In general, this is a good idea. We want the prisoners to be less of a problem in society when the come out, and less of a burden to the state when they are locked up. The truth is that these highly polarizing tattoos cause problems both in and out of jail. It's generally a good idea to get rid of them, even from the perspective of the tax payers.

What would his medical bills be if it gets cut or burned off of him by another inmate on the inside? The answer is, orders of magnitude greater than the cost of sending him over to this other facility for a day.

Yup, he got the tat done so now he lives with it. I have several tattoos myself, all in good taste. So many people regret their choices in tattoos.

Originally posted by 12m8keall2c
ink up. live with it ... or pay for removal YOURSELF.

why should the state or taxpayers be tasked with paying for, expending resources, time and/or efforts for the same ?

It's not him that worries me. It's the staff that may get between this tool and another that is going to shank him. Remove it for the safety of the staff imo.

There are plenty of prison tattoo artists that will be more than happy to transform his tattoo into something more appropriate...it won't be as sterile or comfortable as a tattoo parlor, he might have a knee pressing his kneck to the pavement when it happens, but I am sure he can get it done.

Originally posted by BrokenCar
Yup, he got the tat done so now he lives with it. I have several tattoos myself, all in good taste. So many people regret their choices in tattoos.

I think he should be able to get the tats altered...one changed to a Star of David, and the other becomes a gay pride flag.

reply to post by intrepid


I get that point, as OnceReturned made mention of, But why should the state or taxpayer foot the bill for such?

If anything it should be tallied to his "bill" and worked off in the klink.

Perhaps that's how it already works. (?) I dunno.

Just sayin'...

Originally posted by 12m8keall2c
I get that point, as OnceReturned

made mention of, But why should the state or taxpayer foot the bill for such?

Because it would cost a helluva lot less than paying the family of a fallen CO, or even a disabled one. Well not only CO's but nurses, social workers, support staff, etc.

reply to post by intrepid


Obviously.

BUT....

If anything it should be tallied to his "bill" and worked off in the klink.

???