Depending on the law in their particular area parents can sign a consent form.
Tattoos can be quite expensive. The maybe 3'' one that I have ran me upwards of $200 10 years ago. So first of all if he managed to actually get them at a shop then where did he get the money? He had a few and that is pricey. Or could have the precious little angel been hanging around the sort that is proficient in doing prison tattoos?
Tattoo machines and supplies can be bought with no problem, anyone can set up shop in home or basement.
Big business in Asian comunitys for the equipment used to tattoo cosmetic tattoos, eye liner and eye brows, even lip liner. Cost for a very good job done in a kitchen of an unlicensed artist is about $200 last time I heard. The difference in the reguler tattoo equipment is much as the machine for cosmetics is not one or those big honking machines for body Tattoos.
Professional cosmetics run about $600-$800. Insurence costs and insuring the dye and all equipment is steral, business licences and inspections, zoning laws are by passed by the Outlaw tattooests.
Anyone from 14 on down can get a great professional looking Tattoo for very little money today without anything like perental consent as they do cigarettes, booze, drugs and sex.
In this young mans case with his dark skin, for a Tat to show up, the Artist has to use special dyes to color it, make it POP against the skin.