For the Garrisons, each member of the family gets their initials tattooed as part of tradition. In fact, even the kids get in on the action.

When Jerry Garrison’s 10 year old grandson wanted his initials tattooed on his leg, Gramps didn’t hesitate.

“I didn’t see why a tattoo was such a big issue to begin with,” he said. “I didn’t see where none of this was right.”

And so Jerry took the 10-year-old boy to get his first tattoo. “He got his initials out there on the right leg at the very bottom,” he said proudly.

Unfortunately, when the Department of Children and Families came to the house (for another unnamed reason), they were alarmed by the boy’s new tattoo.

Due to other allegations, DCF decided to put Jerry’s grandkids in foster care. Department Spokesman John Harrell explained that the decision wasn’t due to the tattoo, but because of other reasons.

“When you get in to cases like this, is the child being abused? Is the child at risk? Are the actions of the parents putting the child at risk,” explained Harrell.

Jerry is convinced that the tattoo is the real reason for losing his grandkids.

“I ain’t never been in pain like this, it’s the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. In my whole entire life,” he said.

Florida law regarding tattoos for minors have been complicated. Previously, there was no age limit, so long as a minor received expressed parental consent. In a new law passed this year, any minor under 16 cannot receive a tattoo, unless it’s related to a specific medical reason.

So far, no legal action has been determined.