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More on TSA nipple ring woes and pliers incident
When Jeffery wrote his post yesterday, the story about the woman who was asked to remove her nipple rings at an airport security line were sketchy. Now that the details are out, they are almost unbelievable.
The woman was in the Lubbock airport and triggered off the metal detector. Perhaps they were rather large nipple rings, but once she told the TSA employees what caused the beeping and offered to show the rings to a female employee, one would think that would have been enough. I haven't read anything about nipple rings being a weapon. Particularly since corkscrews without a knife blade are allowable and so are scissors if the blades are small enough, it would seem nipple rings would get a pass.
The woman was given the pliers after she couldn't get one of the rings to come out. She reports that she was crying and heard the TSA guys snickering. According to the TSA policies, she could have had a pat down to establish what was triggering off the alarm. At this moment, all she wants is an apology from TSA.
Two weeks ago I saw an older man getting quite the pat down at the TSA line at the Columbus airport. At first I thought he was getting a massage at the back of his neck and shoulders, but decided it was odd that he was holding his arms out from his side. This nipple ring story makes me wonder even more what was up with him. Oh, the woman did say once the rings were out ,she was able to board the plane with her belly button ring intact. With all the things one can pierce these days, if you plan to take an airplane, I'd watch the size of the metal and how much.
Filed under: Stories, United States, Airports, News, Consumer Activism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
richard Mar 28th 2008 10:03AM
i don't pierce anything or understand why anyone wants to do so. that said - piercings are not illegal or unusual and the response of the screeners in this case are not excusable . this lady is due more than an apology and some people need to lose their jobs.
berford Mar 28th 2008 10:07AM
now richard, that's just stupid. she could have avoided the whole incident if she'd used the brain God gave her.
berford Mar 28th 2008 10:05AM
She should have known the nipple rings would set off the metal detectors. She could/should have removed them at home before she ever got to the airport. And YES, she should have to remove them the same as the rest of us must remove rings and watches. It's part of the post-9/11 routine. Why can't people just follow the rules. She made an error in judgment. Get over it.
Duff Mar 28th 2008 11:15AM
berford,
Tsa doesn't have a clue with what they do. You are allowed to board with a screwdriver as long as it is not over 6" but can't have a pocket swiss utility knife or a leatherman utility knife????? where is the logic in that. None. Her belly button was pierced, her nipples were pierced and I would guess her ears and they pick on the nipple piercings???? The TSA agents are wannabe cops that could not qualify to be a cop and have an authority problem. They like to harass and if you challenge them at a security line they can detain you. A few sharp words and versed correctly can get your point across. The TSA management do not have an across the board policy for all airports where they follow the same procedures and policies. Go to Europe and Asia and you will see a better run continent. And we are suppose to be the leaders, we are so far behind everybody else. By the way berford you can do alot of damage with a 6" knife so don't go spouting off about 9/11. That was 7 years ago and our TSA home security still do not have it correct yet.
Peg Mar 28th 2008 4:29PM
I never take off my watch or rings. Who makes you do this??? This is a stupid request!
greeneyes Mar 31st 2008 7:32PM
Are you freaking serious!!! First off, you are not required to take out your jewelery for the metal detectors. I have piercings in my ears and in my nipples that cannot be removed...period!!! Nor have they ever set off a metal detector!!! The woman in this story did not set off the walk through detector. She was one of the lucky chosen ones for a more thorough search and it was the wand that was set off by her piercings. Please tell me how TSA was justified it doing what they did to this girl?!! Their own policy states that not only can a male agent NOT pat down a female passenger but said female passenger also has the right to elect to show a FEMALE agent the piercings in question OR can DECIDE OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL to remove piercings!!! NOWHERE in TSA policy does it say they are to be removed...IT DOES SAY they have a choice and this woman was not given that choice. These male agents singled her out because of her piercings and purposely humiliated her for their own entertainment and pleasure, of which the audible snickering is proof. At best is was cruel that they made her remove her piercings with an UN-SANITIZED pair of pliers. At worst they made a spectacle of the situation...unnecessarily. Additionally, removing a ring or a watch does not pose a health risk to the wearer. HOWEVER, removing a body modification, such as a nipple piercing, without the supervision of a PROFESSIONAL and a SANITIZED environment does.
You may feel that body modification is odd or silly but it was this girl's right to choose to have it done. You choose not to and that is your right. Because someone makes this choice does not give anyone the right to subject that person to humiliation. And body modification in no way represents a safety issue, pre- or post-911. Get a freakin' grip and update your outdated social attitudes!!!
Amy Apr 4th 2008 1:33PM
I travel by air every week and I never remove any jewelry , including rings or watches. This just goes to show you what happens when you entrust national security to people who make $1o/hour.
Bill Mar 19th 2009 5:40PM
It is clear to me, based on several lines of evidence, that the TSA officers in this case were taking advantage of an opportunity to enact misogynistic (hateful) feelings with regard to women, symbols of pleasure, and symbols of individual freedom, as well as to get off on the pain, anger, and humiliation of another person (a woman, in particular; perhaps an S and M kind of display). What evidence? Consider what earlier people have mentioned in the forum. Particularly: there is no way that these rings could serve as a weapon while larger metal objects could conceivably work in such a way; it is painful and humiliating to remove them; other small metal objects often make it through the screening process (belt buckles, small watches, etc.); a smaller metal detector should have enabled detection of possible threats without removing these rings. My suspicion is that people who favorable to these forced removals of body rings are people who are generally opposed to their use or who have control issues and, thus, are opposed to public expressions of this kind. BTW, although I shouldn't have to mention this, it happens that I am a guy; my name is Anthony (Some people make the amazing assumption that only women would make a big deal about these kinds of issues.).
iamucat Mar 28th 2008 10:48AM
If this story is true and the facts are correct, everyone should be writing their Congressal Representatives about this ridiculous excess and abuse of authority by TSA. Hopefully, everyone associated with the incident is appropriately disciplined (especially if this lady offered to be visually inspected by a female TSA agent as she has indicated). TSA should get back to protectecting the security of our airlines instead of harrassing and embarrasing our flying public. Doesn't the government give these people a "common sense" test before hiring them. Obviously this Lubbock's TX TSA group didn't get one!
Eva Mar 28th 2008 10:51AM
This is crazy. They can't possibly have been larger than your average pair of dangly earrings. And it would probably be easier to bludgeon someone to death with a large Rolex than to hurt them with a nipple ring.
rick Mar 28th 2008 11:04AM
I would welcome being bludgeoned by a nipple ring, and the attached breast.
chuck Mar 28th 2008 4:28PM
After 911 Anyone with half a brain would not think of doing something this stupid ! She knew it would set off the metal detector. Just another cry baby pain in the ass who will probably hire a lawyer claiming her rights were violated. Let security do their jobs and thank God for them. It is our safety that is in question here. Stupid Stupid woman. Let her take a bus.
Mark Mar 28th 2008 5:36PM
Jeeze, fella, a little over-the-top. Apparently you have never been told that you may keep your finger rings on by a TSA Security Inspector as I have. Maybe this varies from airport to airport or from Inspector to Inspector. In any event, please never apply for a TSA Security position, for I would have difficulty removing the large metal pin in my knee for your pleasure.
Mark Eaton Mar 28th 2008 5:08PM
So, the TSA is now worried about breast bombs? Apparently the TSA has decided that their employees are so intellectually inadequate that they cannot be allowed to use the principle of reasonableness. Heaven save us from all the uneducated people who are given power.
Seanross Mar 29th 2008 9:57AM
The was no point in making her take it off though. They let you put your watches and rings and chains on after you go through the security gate right? This is stupider(word) than the Macbook Air incident.
Ruby Mar 30th 2008 12:29AM
Whether you agree with piercings or not, is not the point here. Her dignity & rights were violated. What she has under her clothes in no-one's business, but her's and her other half. For those saying that she should have known to take them out, that it would set off the metal detector - I myself have many piercing's all over. I have flown many times and not once have I set off the detectors. So, the one she apparently went through must have been very sensitive. And I hope she does take this matter as far as she can with those over inflated-heads above the law jerks. They need to stick to their business and check for things that could really hurt the people. The most those rings can do is break a tooth. And I also agree with the ones that said they don't make you take off other jewelry, I have never been made to do that. They see our expensive watches, gold (or other precious metal) & diamonds and we have no problem with them for those things.
Another matter, I had a bottle of $500 for two ounces of perfume. I only had about a quarter of the bottle left, (well less than the two ounces allowed) which is pre-sealed - they took it from me and wouldn't let my have it back, even though I was wearing the same. The three women threw it in the trash, when I walked away I turned around and one of them removed it from the trash can - go figure. I hope she was allergic to it.
These idiots need to be stopped and retrained to do their jobs properly.
Thanks for the chance to vent - now I'll hush
Have a good one all!
Osc@r Mar 30th 2008 4:53PM
The materials used for body jewelry are implant grade materials such as Implant Grade Steel ASTM 316 LVM F-138, and Sugical Implant Grade Titanium ASTM Ti6a4v F-136. These are the same materials used in hospitals for, lets say, a screw to put a broken ankle back together. While such materials will not set off a walk trough metal detector they can and have set off hand wands as in this case.
Here is the statement from the Association of professional Piercers. Thank you for reading.
APP’s Public Response to AP article
re: Women removing nipple rings
In response to the Associated Press article titled, "Woman Says TSA Forced Piercings Removal."
While the indignities endured by Mandi Hamlin at the hands of TSA representatives is distressing, it is unfortunately not uncommon. As the Medical Liaison for the Association of Professional Piercers, I am all too familiar with this story. I have heard it many times before, from different people traveling through different airports in different parts the country. While this is not an isolated incident, it is noteworthy this issue is now garnering sympathetic press.
The Association of Professional Piercers is a non-profit international educational organization dedicated to the circulation of relevant information about body piercing to piercers, health care professionals, legislators, and the general public. Representatives from our membership routinely speak to other professional organizations on how to interact with others with sensitivity concerning body piercing.
Millions of Americans now have body piercings. What was once easily overlooked as a practice engaged in by a small group of individuals has since become commonplace. Health care professionals have had to learn how to address their patients with body piercings, and many hospitals are now proactive in drafting policy to address this issue. To read there is "no specific TSA policy to deal with body piercings" is discouraging, especially when so many other groups, businesses, and organizations have long ago addressed this topic.
On behalf of our membership, body piercers everywhere, and all air travelers with body piercings, the APP encourages the TSA to not only address their lack of policy on this issue, but to educate their handlers to engage the public with respect concerning their bodies and their choices with regards to how they adorn themselves. Only then can we all get what we all want: to get through the security line at the airport quickly, with our dignity—and our jewelry—still in place.
James Weber
Medical Liaison
Association of Professional Piercers
safepiercing.org
Lefty Mar 31st 2008 4:31PM
I believe rules should be enforced with out any bias what so ever. If anything sets off a metal detector, it should be removed before you pass through the dectector. Male or female makes no difference. If it is a metal plate or other medically implanted device, you need to have your doctor show the x-ray or proof that it is where it is & needed. Take the time to make sure you won't have a problem going through the metal dector, and you nor anyone will be delayed from boarding your flight. Trying to get them to relax the rules based on your own "exception" just puts unnecessary pressures to everyone doing their jobs & other passengers. If the nipple rings weren't there, she would nit have had to remove them & demand an appology from the TSA personel. She put them in a position where "snickering" & potential embarassment could have been avoided. You want to place metal on your body, accept the consequences for your "rights." Others have "rights" that she infringed on for setting off the metal dectector. Plan ahead, and these situations can be avoided.
robin johnson Apr 3rd 2008 10:12AM
Are you serious? You must have misread something. This lady had her nipples pierced as well as her navel and only had to remove the nippel rings. If any of the items were a threat, TSA should have said that everything had to be removed and it wouldn't look like those employees were just getting thrills. Had I been her, I would have cussed everyone of them and took a bus. Our government keeps talking about this war on terror, but everytime I watch the news or read the newspaper, you have some idiot (politician) saying we need to privatize our roads and highways, prisons, and selling property in the Gulf Shores to the very people they say we should be afraid of. I just don't understand why we are allowing our government to keep us afraid of Al Qaida when they are not even pursuing Al Qaida.
But back to your comment, how many people carry around x-rays to prove where surgical implants are? Like somone said before, the government doesn't allow employees to make common sense judgements or they are allowed to abuse their authority because it doesn't take much to be arrested in an airport just because TSA employees have no common sense.
MJ Feb 24th 2009 1:03PM
Yeah, right there freak I have the space and room to carry a 2' by 1 1/2' x-ray around just to show you that I need to have the plate in my head right where it is at... that the bullet I took preserving your rights as an American that left a damaged skull behind, your full of it