Woman Says TSA Forced Piercings Removal

[ianw2]

(Referring to my posted comment regarding Ms. Alred&#8230Now where did that come from? Something disrespectful about nip-rings? I don't think my daughter has any, that I know of, but if this had happened to her - I would be in jail at the moment.

All that I'll agree with...

Why do you have so much animosity for her? What has she done to earn your disrespect towards her and/or her tactics?? Is she some Jezebel, I mean she must be some floozie if she has body piercings. It isn't like body piercings and tattoos are pretty common and mainstream nowadays.

Actually, Gloria Allred is the attorney representing the Mandi Hamlin. Ms. Allred takes on any such case anywhere, anytime…mostly for the publicity. Her stock-in-trade is the hyperbole during carefully staged news conferences to which the defendants cannot defend themselves due to the nature of the case. Her actions and behavior are the very essence of what many find deplorable about attorneys.

As far as Ms. Hamlin is concerned, I have no knowledge of her whatsoever other than what I have read in press coverage of the incident. I couldn’t care less whether she has pierced nipples, belly buttons, ears or whatever.

Next time, Dandy and Princess, re-read a post before you make comments about it. If you checked back on the story and my post, you would have seen that my negative comments were directed at the attorney, not the victim and that I actually supported Ms. Hamlin’s suit because of what I see as arbitrary and capricious application of any semblance of “rules” by poorly trained “officials” under the color of uniform. The fact that Ms. Hamlin herself was not made to remove her bellybutton piercing points to this fact.

Now, on with the roastings…

Ian

 

[Teamcasa]

I’ve been following this thread and the news about this issue. What I find disturbing is the lengths the TSA go to in an effort to do what they think is right. For one thing, what could possibly be so threatening about a piercing, no matter the location, that would make a reasonable person demand the removal or even a pat down?

I mean if they wand her and she tells them it’s a piercing, why not just let a female TSA agent visually verify it. If she is too modest to display them one-on-one in private, then she has the option of a pat down inspection. If she refuses these options, then she has a problem. TSA forcing her to remove them without benefit of proper cleaning supplies is just wrong

I do think TSA has an unenviable task. No one likes the inspections, everyone likes to be safe. The balance of these two is the issue.

 

[DivingPrincessE]

Actually, Gloria Allred is the attorney representing the Mandi Hamlin. Ms. Allred takes on any such case anywhere, anytime…mostly for the publicity. Her stock-in-trade is the hyperbole during carefully staged news conferences to which the defendants cannot defend themselves due to the nature of the case. Her actions and behavior are the very essence of what many find deplorable about attorneys.

As far as Ms. Hamlin is concerned, I have no knowledge of her whatsoever other than what I have read in press coverage of the incident. I couldn’t care less whether she has pierced nipples, belly buttons, ears or whatever.

Next time, Dandy and Princess, re-read a post before you make comments about it. If you checked back on the story and my post, you would have seen that my negative comments were directed at the attorney, not the victim and that I actually supported Ms. Hamlin’s suit because of what I see as arbitrary and capricious application of any semblance of “rules” by poorly trained “officials” under the color of uniform. The fact that Ms. Hamlin herself was not made to remove her bellybutton piercing points to this fact.

Now, on with the roastings…

Ian

Ok, sorry about that. Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[DandyDon]

No ianw2, if you don't quote your earlier post along with the slam remark, I can't read your mind or recall what you said earlier.

Thanks for the explain...

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I have read quite a few of the posts. I'm not saying all of them so I'm sorry if this has already been asked.

I understand this incident is a few agents that are out of line and I'm not defending their actions.

What would make the TSA better. Should we do nothing? Pre 9/11 with bascially no security?

This is a federal agency so they are probably not going to change. Just wondering how the critics would change the system?

 

[Cacia]

I love it when somebody asks that.

 

[mempilot]

It goes beyond TSA making changes.

It takes a change in the very fabric of our society and our willingness to give up some part of our civil liberties when traveling. Proper security is tough, expecially with the number of commericial airports in this country. Since things like the Patriot Act and other legislation gets bombarded, it is obvious still that we as Americans are not willing to do what it takes to secure our nation from threats.

This is not to say that we are all that way, but the changes have to start with attitudes that influence congress that influence change that influence results.

To date, the support and iniative has come strongly from the bottom-up and top-down and quashed in the middle where the real power to institute change lies.

In a country that was built and thrived on the presumption of strong civil liberties, it is very difficult to implement the total package. It will be widdled down to suit various factions and ultimately will become something not even reminnesant of what it was intended to be. We will live under the veil of disguised security to make us all feel better as we enjoy our excesses.

This is why we fight outside our walls, because Americans could never stomach the fight inside the walls. Right now, the best defense is being played out through a tough offense. If that team fails, or it is prematurely stood down, then I'm afraid we will discover the ugly truth about our security at home.

So, keep fighting tough to stomach laws. Keep talking about misplaced intentions overseas. But, don't forget about it when it hits again. Maybe we will get it right the next time around.

 

[scubabum2]

I don't know what the intent is in stirring things up with this thread, but I think it's overblown and the whole thing needs to be shelved. This is a tiny regional issue and hardly worth the time of day.

As a former Lubbock resident for 21 years and someone who flys often to "Lubbock International" to visit aged parents, the problem is the TSA at the Lubbock airport. They are not in sync with the TSA in other places in America, from little burgs like Manastee, Michigan to large internationals like LAX. The Lubbock TSA are extremely overbearing and have this attitude that "we're gonna catch 'em," at least since the 9/11 hijackings. My relatives there consider the Lubbock TSA a big joke and a painful inconvenience for their air travel. Somewhere in the Lubbock TSA adminstration, you've got one or more rubes who are making poor decisions and shaming the city of Lubbock as a result. I hope that a thorough investigation and overhaul of security at Lubbock happens because of this negative publicity. They were completely out of line way before this incident.

See what Lubbockites think of this matter on the Lubbock Avalanche Journal website to be better informed. This isn't a panic situation. Continue your travels as planned without fear of pliers.

 

[mempilot]

Scubabum, I have to disagree with you if you think this is just a Lubbock TSA attitude. These types of events happen every day at large airports as well, but in most cases, the parties are so embarrassed or humiliated that they scamper sheepishly into the terminal and don't look back. Type A personalities tend to butt heads with type A personalities, and this is where temper and power get the best of both sides. Once the media jumps in, the feeding frenzy is complete.

 

[scubabum2]

mempilot,
I can't dispute what you're saying as I can't speak for all airports in the US. When you consider the qualifications and backgrounds of your typical TSA employee, I would have to agree with you in general terms. Just by the number of flights that leave all US cities each day, TSA has plenty opportunity to screw up.

What I can say with first hand knowledge is that the TSA at Lubbock Int'l has some major attitude issues relative to other airports that I travel and I am not surprised that they committed this atrocity. I just don't think that the TSA as a whole needs to be judged by some misguided idiots in Lubbock. TSA would be clipping off nipple rings constantly at the two airports in the DFW area if they acted like they do in Lubbock.