It tends to filter out criminal elements.
Really, tatoos make you a criminal?
The military checks your criminal record, so that's not the reason.
It does no such thing. It only brings a visual opinion of a soldier. You shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Tattoos have no bearing on a soldiers attitude to his duty. People can easily be gang members or criminals without tattoos.
BTW, I got mine while in Basic Training.
The ban on convicted felons tends to accomplish that a little better.