Latest TSA horror story (Wizbang)

Did Martin Luther King and his supporters march for freedom to have nipple rings?

A Texas woman who said she was forced to remove a nipple ring with pliers in order to board an airplane called Thursday for an apology by federal security agents and a civil rights investigation.
*****

Hamlin said she told the woman she was wearing nipple piercings. The women then called over her male colleagues, one of whom said she would have to remove the jewelry, Hamlin said.

Hamlin said she could not remove them and asked whether she could instead display her pierced breasts in private to the female agent. But several other male officers told her she could not board her flight until the jewelry was out, she said.

She was taken behind a curtain and managed to remove one bar-shaped piercing but had trouble with the second, a ring.

"Still crying, she informed the TSA officer that she could not remove it without the help of pliers, and the officer gave a pair to her," said Hamlin's attorney, Gloria Allred, reading from a letter she sent Thursday to the director of the TSA's Office of Civil Rights and Liberties.

Assuming Hamlin's story is true, the behavior of the TSA officer was beyond absurd.

Dr. Steven Taylor at Poliblog, whose initial reaction is to believe Ms. Hamilin, 'Indeed, TSA policy could easily lead to the scenario above.'

On its Web site, the TSA warns that passengers "may be additionally screened because of hidden items such as body piercings, which alarmed the metal detector."
"If you are selected for additional screening, you may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to a pat-down search," the site says.

Hamlin would have accepted a "pat-down" had it been offered, Allred said.

*****

TSA spokesman Dwayne Baird said he was unaware of the incident. There is no specific TSA policy on dealing with body piercings, he said, "as long as it doesn't sound the alarms."

If an alarm does sound, "until that is resolved, we're not going to let them go through the checkpoint, no matter what they're wearing or where they're wearing it."

Dr. Taylor and I both feel safer. Do you?

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Comments (24)

Quick, someone patent compo... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by epador | March 27, 2008 11:00 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

epador:

Quick, someone patent composite body jewelry! Get the franchise for every airport in the US. And sell the abandoned metal jewelry to melt down to pay for your meth lab.

Posted on March 27, 2008 23:00

"You cannot professionalize... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by JLawson | March 28, 2008 12:01 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

JLawson:

"You cannot professionalize unless you Federalize." Tom Daschle on the TSA.

And even then, you've got maybe a 50-50 shot. Whole lot of people going past low-wage rent-a-cops... yeah, they're gonna attract the best & brightest, the reasoning and discriminating, to serve as our front line of defense.

And see what you get. Some dudes with a tit fetish. Phooey.

Posted on March 28, 2008 00:01

She needed a pliers to take... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Jane | March 28, 2008 1:26 AM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)

Jane

She needed a pliers to take it out?

Yes I feel safer if we can continue to find a way to identify idiots who try to go through metal detectors with metal body piercings.

Posted on March 28, 2008 01:26

I'm sorry, but I find this ... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by BPG | March 28, 2008 2:17 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

BPG:

I'm sorry, but I find this one hard to believe. Maybe right after TSA was formed, but not 5 years on.

Posted on March 28, 2008 02:17

And so many lefties want th... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by WildWillie | March 28, 2008 7:19 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

WildWillie:

And so many lefties want the government of handle healthcare. Can you even imagine? ww

Posted on March 28, 2008 07:19

Just another in the long st... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by bill-tb | March 28, 2008 8:31 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

bill-tb:

Just another in the long string of out of control unionized federal leaches to suck money from and harass the public. I see nothing these people do that is useful.

Posted on March 28, 2008 08:31

As a former federal beauroc... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by ExSubNuke | March 28, 2008 8:52 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

ExSubNuke:

As a former federal beaurocrat, that sounds dunderheaded enough to be true. I would much rather the TSA actually provide security than this sham Appearance of security.

Posted on March 28, 2008 08:52

If nipples are outlawed...<... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by Parker | March 28, 2008 9:40 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Parker:

If nipples are outlawed...

Posted on March 28, 2008 09:40

If anyone's ever had a medi... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by matthew | March 28, 2008 9:44 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

matthew:

If anyone's ever had a medium/high-gauge ring piercing, they're often closed off with a dimpled bearing that is nearly impossible to remove. Basically, once you get the effing thing in (which usually requires a special tool at the piercing parlor), it doesn't come out.

Jane, why is someone with body piercings an "idiot"? Why are people allowed on airplanes with earrings but not nipple rings?

Posted on March 28, 2008 09:44

I call shenanigans.... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by Eric F | March 28, 2008 10:16 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Eric F:

I call shenanigans.

Posted on March 28, 2008 10:16

Here's a nice YouTube video... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by philw1776 | March 28, 2008 10:20 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

philw1776:

Here's a nice YouTube video on the TSA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7AWw7t5zj0

Posted on March 28, 2008 10:20

Just another reason why I n... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by GarandFan | March 28, 2008 11:26 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

GarandFan:

Just another reason why I no longer fly. If enough people refused to fly because of the idiots in the TSA, only then would something be done to restore some sanity.

Posted on March 28, 2008 11:26

Why the hell would they req... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by anon | March 28, 2008 11:49 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

anon:

Why the hell would they require her to remove the rings anyway? What was the threat? What was TSA's motive? Oh wait...boobs (snicker)

I agree with Matthew - I travel several times a year, and I have yet so see someone remove their earrings at security.

What if someone goes through with a metal plate in their head? Are they handed a crowbar and some gauze?

Posted on March 28, 2008 11:49

Please understand that I'm ... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by TGScott | March 28, 2008 12:18 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

TGScott:

Please understand that I'm not indicting the person wearing the nipple jewelry or anyone else who wears jewelry for that matter, but I would ask myself whether or not that piece could keep me from smoothly boarding the plane. The only jewelry I ever wear anymore is my wedding band and solitaire. I wouldn't dare wear lace-up shoes either. Just something more to diddle with.

Posted on March 28, 2008 12:18

The TSA can't spot fake bom... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by Peter F. | March 28, 2008 12:39 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Peter F.:

The TSA can't spot fake bombs, but Lordy, try to get a nipple ring by them and you're in a world of hurt!

WTF? Common sense has gone the way of the dodo.

Posted on March 28, 2008 12:39

It is security theatre.... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by SPQR | March 28, 2008 2:05 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

SPQR:

It is security theatre.

Posted on March 28, 2008 14:05

The principle is exactly th... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by Jim Addison | March 28, 2008 4:25 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)

Jim Addison:

The principle is exactly the same as if something in your pocket sets off the alarm. You empty your pocket and go through again. If the alarm sounds again, you don't get on the plane until they are sure what is setting off the alarm.

Those are the rules, and have been the rules. I believe they were even the rules before 9/11, but weren't as strictly enforced.

~~~~~~

matthew ~

Jane, why is someone with body piercings an "idiot"?

Same principle at work here as in restaurant menus without prices. If you have to ask . . .

;-)

Posted on March 28, 2008 16:25

Just because you're a Repub... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by matthew | March 28, 2008 5:16 PM | Score: -3 (3 votes cast)

Just because you're a Republican, Jim, doesn't mean you have to pretend so hard to be boring. :) I've outgrown my taste for it, but body jewellery can be really sexy. I'm not talking about 16 interlocking labia rings, mind you, or "tribal" ear spacers the size of quarters, but small-to-mid-gauged barbells here and there can be tasteful. A labret (sp?) piercing is, to me, far sexier than any gaudy diamond shite one might find at Tacky Southern Belles 'R' Us. I will say, however, that nothing says "two daiquiris short of a taxi ride to your place" more than a fake-tanned midriff with a dangly navel piercing.

You might be interested to know that there is a tongue stud available that has a small watch battery on the bottom of the post, and on the top, a vibrating egg-shaped thing. And the world is a better place for it. :)

Posted on March 28, 2008 17:16

I thought the TSA sunsetted... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by John S | March 28, 2008 5:27 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

John S:

I thought the TSA sunsetted after 5 years. Isn't it time to send those idiots back to Mc Donalds?

Posted on March 28, 2008 17:27

What happens to someone wit... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by Tim | March 28, 2008 6:11 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Tim:

What happens to someone with a "Prince Albert"?

Posted on March 28, 2008 18:11

matthew ~ On the contrary, ... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by Jim Addison | March 28, 2008 6:38 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

matthew ~ On the contrary, the problem is with those who must deface and mutilate themselves in order NOT to be boring. What a truly empty life one must lead to believe they require such "enhancement" . . .

Posted on March 28, 2008 18:38

TimMatthew ... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by Imhotep | March 28, 2008 6:41 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Imhotep:

Tim

Matthew uses his special piercing vibrator on it!

Posted on March 28, 2008 18:41

Now we know why Matthew is ... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by epador | March 28, 2008 6:56 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Now we know why Matthew is particular to whom he asks to kiss his behind...

Posted on March 28, 2008 18:56

I've not got a tongue pierc... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by matthew | March 29, 2008 3:12 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

'v nt gt tng prcng. xpct 'd fnd thm nnng. lk m bd s t s, nd lk rs s t s--kmb! Bt dn't cncld tht nn s wrng t chng thrs, wth sprfcl prcngs r ttts r whtvr. Rmmbr <>Whr th Wld Thngs r? M brthr hs ll f th mnstrs nd th b n hs pjms tttd crss hs bdmn nd bck n cng ln. H's nt tht FC crp, s h's gt bnxsl prtrsv mscls cvrd n th mst bd-ss chldrn's bk chrctrs vr. Thr s zr prcnt chnc tht r trs s s cl s hs. 'm gld t's nt m trs, thgh.

ppl r s cls-mndd, t's knd f pnfl. Hv sx n n rpln r smthng, r f 'r frd f flng, tr lvng th lghts n fr strtrs.

Posted on March 29, 2008 03:12

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