Woman Says TSA Forced Piercings Removal

AP ^ | 3/27/2008 | Greg Risling

[Deek1969]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - 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. "I wouldn't wish this experience upon anyone," Mandi Hamlin said at a news conference. "My experience with TSA was a nightmare I had to endure. No one deserves to be treated this way."

Hamlin, 37, said she was trying to board a flight from Lubbock to Dallas on Feb. 24 when she was scanned by a Transportation Security Administration agent after passing through a larger metal detector without problems.

[BurbankKarl]

That woman should take Amtrak

[karnage]

I dealt with the morons of TSA humorously in my Larry the Cable Guy movie, “Witless Protection.”

[neodad]

Good thing we “professionalized” them.

[Balding_Eagle]

Somehow I have trouble giving a damn about someone have to remove a nipple rings.

Actually this is way, way too funny.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I’ve been through the airport in Lubbock and will admit, they did a much more thorough search than the Houston airport - they pulled me aside and went through my purse and also went through the diaper bag of the couple in front of me........but someone please tell me the picture is NOT the 37 year old woman the story is written about.

[John Jorsett]

I dealt with the morons of TSA humorously in my Larry the Cable Guy movie, “Witless Protection.”

Cool. I'll have to see it.

This woman should just be greatful she didn't have a metal plate in her skull. That might have been messy.

[VeniVidiVici]

I dealt with the morons of TSA humorously in my Larry the Cable Guy movie, “Witless Protection.”

You could probably make a movie ala Reno 911 based on nothing but true stories like this and make a mint.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Well, whenever I board a flight, I have to remove the chain saw which is hanging from my nipples, so I don’t see what’s the big deal.

[Feiny]

really?

congratulations

[BurbankKarl]

http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1476709451

[television is just wrong]

I have too. So have several of my friends. These employees if not working for TSA, would be not qualified to receive welfare benes

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Definitely not a Texas Tech girl......;^) thanks

[5thGenTexan]

The video news clip is called Allred goes tit-for-tat with the TSA...

LOL

[BurbankKarl]

Three different women in our office watched that video, and all three laughed until they cried.

[Hoodat]

ttiwwp

[goodnesswins]

Um.....do people with nipple rings take them out like earrings get taken out? I just don’t know about any of this ...... or are they meant as PERMANENT???? And, by the way, what is the PURPOSE of a nipple ring???? Ooppss....maybe I shouldn’t ask that here....not enough time for me to stick around for the answers tonight!

[Balding_Eagle]

I probably would too.

I had included “just rip that sucker out” in my earlier post but thought better of it.

[SoldierDad]

I didn’t know Gloria Allred is from Texas!!!!!

[Balding_Eagle]

I think they hang the towels there after a shower.................or something like that.

[Albion Wilde]

...someone please tell me the picture is NOT the 37 year old woman the story is written about.

It seems likely that it is the woman demonstrating on a bra, because the woman on the left in pink who is listening to her appears to be the famous trial lawyer Gloria Allred.

[Gator113]

Thank you for the laughs....

[Salamander]

“A Texas woman who said she was forced to remove a nipple ring with pliers”

If any FReepers just heard a blood curdling, ear-piercing shriek, that was me.

****cringe****

[tubebender]

Jeeeze... what in the hell are they going to do about the metal rod up my spine...

[Salamander]

“And, by the way, what is the PURPOSE of a nipple ring???? “

Because sometimes, ramming an ice pick into your own eye just isn’t enough of a “thrill”.

[onguard]

Bin Laden must be laughing at what he’s managed to reduce us to.

[yankeedame]

Somehow I have trouble giving a damn about someone have to remove a nipple rings.

Especially a 37 years old broad. A box of donuts says she has tattoos, is against the war, and thinks manual labor is the governor of New Mexico.

[Salamander]

I’d advise you to always pack your own sterile removal tools.

[a nice Ryobi cordless set oughta do it].....:)

[karnage]

glad you enjoyed the show.

[tubebender]

You could be right. My first thought was Ariheaded Puffigton...

[Hildy]

why wouldn’t you give a damn? Wait until they do something to you...maybe a religious ornament? Anything they don’t like? What this woman was asked to to was RIDICULOUS. You’re allowed to wear jewelry. It was meant to humiliate her by asshole security people.

[lightman]

Bin Laden must be laughing at what he’s managed to reduce us to.

The Fourth Amendment collapsed with the World Trade Towers.

[Publius6961]

Somehow I have trouble giving a damn about someone have to remove a nipple rings.

You insensitive snot!
It's a lifestyle choice and a Constitutional right.
You're probably a homophobe, too!

I mean, what's this **** about consequences anyway?

[manic4organic]

Nip Slip Clips Trip.

[tubebender]

Thats what the Doc used to slice me down the breast bone to replace some of my fuel lines...

[pissant]

GUILTY AS SIN. OFF TO GITMO

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Yeah, unfortunately someone sent me a link - that is one hard looking woman - hard to believe she’s only 37.

[svcw]

I have thought about this and why was she asked to remove these rings. I have four piercing in each ear and have not had to remove them.
She did not even set off the walk through detector.
As far as Amtrak my husband just today took Amtrak from Los Angeles to San Jose and he had to go through security, so they must have changed their policies.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Ha - I was waiting for a guilty comment! This is a strict airport for sure - they made me move a few cosmetic items to my checked luggage even though they had gone straight through with no problems in Houston.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

People who wear all this metal jewelry & earrings, women with underwire bras, pocket change, etc...why are people so unwilling to help expedite the security systems by not wearing these things onto planes? Can’t people carry these things and put them on after landing?

[353FMG]

“My experience with TSA was a nightmare I had to endure. No one deserves to be treated this way.”

Put some ice on it.
(William J. Clinton)

[wafflehouse]

i dont really see that this was necessary.. unless there was an AK-47 or an UZI or something dangling from one of them

[PLMerite]

Good thing it wasn’t a guy with a “Prince Albert.”

Now *that* would be a good SNL skit.

[wildbill]

I’m not clear on the concept of nipple rings as weapons for terrorists.

The agent had to have a bizarre —and kinky—imagination.

[linn37]

I’m having a hard time understanding why rings set the alarm off. I have more hardware in my underwire bra then she does in a little ring off her boob.

[pissant]

If i have to take of my watch, what the hell makes this bimbo think she can wear her nipple erectors through screening?

[Smokin' Joe]

Because sometimes, ramming an ice pick into your own eye just isn’t enough of a “thrill”.

ROTFLMAO! That's a classic!

[Doe Eyes]

I’m having a hard time understanding why rings set the alarm off.

From the article,

"when she was scanned by a Transportation Security Administration agent after passing through a larger metal detector without problems."

Sounds like she went through the metal detector ok and then was hand scanned.

[onguard]

“The Fourth Amendment collapsed with the World Trade Towers.”

All too right.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

At least she’s proof they don’t just pick out the beautiful young girls to strip! Someone really dedicated to safety frisked this one!