KTRV Fox 12 Waiting List for Tattoo Removal Program
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Eagle, Idaho -- Gang members are known to have tattoos -- bad memories possibly embedded for life.
But a new program is leaving a stronger mark than the ink of those tattoos for those who want to leave the gang lifestyle. It's called the tattoo removal program and is designed to help former gang members become part of society again in a positive way.
From white supremacists to Hispanic gangs, they're making their ink and their lifestyle a thing of the past.
Former East Side Locos gang member Enrique Martinez, 25, is eliminating negative signs of his life. Here to erase the letters ESL, three dots representing "my crazy life," and his nickname Cholo -- three gang rebellious tattoos he's had since he was 13 years old.
"I was on the streets, using drugs, hanging out with the home boys, incarcerated due to gang violence, just very lost," said Martinez.
In conjunction with Eagle River Medical Aesthetics, Second Chance Grace offers the low-fee tattoo removal program for anyone who qualifies through a screening process.
"If they have something from being productive from working in society, that's where we want to help," said Second Chance Grace Tattoo Removal Program Director Peter Vasquez.
The laser procedure comes with a slight sensation.
"It actually rattles the ink molecules ,which the ink molecules explodes, and that would be absorbed by the body's lymphatic system then it's excreted," said Eagle River Medical Aesthetics worker Gia Swope.
Martinez says the rubber band-like sting outweighs the pain of a being a gang member.
Today, they will see 10 people who want to start their lives over, like Martinez, who found a higher power that changed his life three years ago.
"He set me free. It's says in the Bible if the son sets you free, you're free indeed," said Martinez.
Martinez says gangs members are growing in numbers on a daily basis, most of them join because they find love and attention in the streets that so many families fail to provide at home.
He's working with his church youth group, spiritually trying to steer them from an ugly past like his.
"He's the one. Actually he'll restore your life to a point when you're actually not looking over your back anymore. There's no more fear, there's no more insecurities," said Martinez. "Feels nice bro."
Second Chance Grace says the response of its tattoo removal program has been overwhelming, there's now a waiting list. The church plans to offer more sessions on a monthly basis.
