The Shocking Truth Behind the Lightning Bolt Tattoo in Prison
Published February 4th, 2024
Getting inked while serving time in jail is quite popular nowadays. While it is illegal in US prisons to get a tattoo, that didn’t stop thousands of inmates from getting one. Especially getting the lightning bolt tattoo.
You may wonder, “How can it get a tattoo while inside the prison when tattoo equipment is considered contraband?” Well, inmates have plenty of ways to get inked while locked behind bars.
Prisoners who want a tattoo use paperclips, guitar strings, or the spring from a stapler as the needle. Melted plastic, shoes, or styrofoam are also used as ink, while motors from CD or tape players are used as tattoo machines.
Since getting a tattoo inside the jail is very common, several tattoo ideas are famous among inmates. One example of that is the lightning bolt tattoo.
LIGHTNING BOLT TATTOO MEANING
A lightning bolt symbol generally signifies power, strength, and intelligence. In Greek mythology, Zeus, the supreme god of the Olympians, used a lightning bolt as a weapon. Since then, the Greeks have given it a philosophical meaning.
However, the lightning bolt tattoo meaning in prison and sometimes double or ‘SS’ bolt tattoos are different. Unknown to many, these tattoos are also associated with something evil.
Thunderbolt tattoos are also known as hate symbols inside the jail. A lightning bolt tattoo means that the inmate is a white supremacist. The ‘SS’ or double lightning bolts, on the other hand, which is stylized exactly like the Schutzstaffel’s logo, means that the inmate is a neo-Nazi. Most inmates in the US have these cracker bolts inked on their skin to let the other prisoners know that they support the Nazi party’s racist ideology.
TATTOO AS AN ART FORM
Having a tattoo is an art and one way of expressing yourself. But remember that they are semi-permanent. Whatever symbol you stamp on your skin will stay there long.
Besides, most symbols can mean several things to people and cultures. While a lightning bolt tattoo may hold tremendous and special meaning to you, it can also connotate a contrary interpretation to some.
So before you permanently ink yourself a thunderbolt tattoo or whatever kind of tattoo design, it’s best to do proper research first.
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(Also read: Oldest and Youngest Prisoners in US History)
Before Getting A Tattoo
The lightning bolt tattoo in prison carries a highly controversial and alarming significance. While lightning bolts may traditionally symbolize power, strength, and intelligence within the confines of prisons, they take on a different meaning altogether. These tattoos have become hate symbols. The presence of lightning bolts on a prisoner’s body serves as an indication of their allegiance to these dangerous factions, representing racism, violence, and a willingness to engage in criminal activities.
It is unsettling to realize that such seemingly innocuous symbols can conceal such deep-rooted hatred and pose a threat both within and outside prison walls. The shocking truth behind the lightning bolt tattoo in prison sheds light on the disturbing subculture that exists beneath society’s surface, reminding us of the ongoing challenges we face in combating prejudice and ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the GlobalTel blog. She works hard to ensure her work contains accurate facts by cross checking reputable sources and doesn’t settle for less. Her passion for telling stories about true crime and criminal justice has allowed her to create hundreds of articles that have benefited millions of people.
