Florida Tattoo Parlor Faces Backlash for Excluding Military

A tattoo shop in Florida is encountering criticism after a social media post indicated that active duty military members and veterans are not welcome at the establishment. The backlash has been significant online.

On June 23rd, the Revival Tattoo Collective in Largo shared a post stating, “People are all emotional because I expressed my opinion about the military and law enforcement. My view is that the military is a group of war criminals, and law enforcement harms innocent civilians on the streets.” The message further asserted that if people disagreed with this stance, that was fine, but the opinion wouldn’t change. The post concluded with a rather confrontational remark about the character of the military.

The statement clarified, “For those who are late, let me say it again: It’s the military. If you are a former military member or currently serving, please simply don’t come to the store. You’ll be turned away.”

This shop was founded by Brady Martinson, who is a tattoo artist and sign painter. His website describes him as someone who approaches each piece with a sense of architecture, treating words as if they are built to last a lifetime.

While some responses to the post seemed to support this perspective—one woman claimed, “The military targets underprivileged young men, making false promises about opportunities”—the majority of reactions were critical.

One commenter noted, “This kind of thinking is unfortunate and immature. Judging an entire group by the actions of a few is the same kind of bigotry you claim to oppose. There are good and bad people in every profession.”

Another emphasized the importance of rejecting stereotypes, stating, “I have served alongside a range of individuals, some of whom are incredibly selfless.” They urged for healing and a break from the cycle of conflict in society.

Another response read, “It must be very peaceful to be so ignorant.” One user reminded others that while free speech exists, it doesn’t shield one from the consequences of their words.

In a light-hearted exchange, one person replied with a GIF that read, “Please stop breaking the law so thoroughly,” while another quipped about visiting the shop but keeping their thoughts to themselves, to which the shop responded humorously.

A spokesperson for the business later stated, “Yes, we are fully booked. We are unable to take customers, military or civilian. Thank you for your interest.”