Woman Says TSA Forced Piercings Removal

[mike_s]

You want rude??? Go through the Montego Bay Airport sometimes.

They aren't rude in Montego Bay...... They just don't "give a ****" about you....


seriously, the quickest way to get through Mo Bay security is to use the local porters to carry your bags. They don't want to wait in line holding your bag and want a big tip, so they take you to the front of the line or seperate lines set up just for them. no waiting

otherwise you get stuck in a line behind a bunch of other people that are getting treated bad by the locals that are fed up with the very tourist that provide them a living....

 

[reefduffer]

...
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.
...

I am much more afraid of an American police state than I am of being blown up by terrorists. It would be a real bummer to be on a plane captured by suicide bombers. It would be a real bummer to get eaten by a shark while diving. These things are awful, but they are very low probability. That's one of Schneier's [see my earlier post] key points about risk: our instincts cause us to overemphasize low-probability risks with really dramatic bad outcomes, and not worry about the little things that will kill us subtly, with high certainty. Reason has to take over from instinct or we make bad choices.

Democracy and civil liberties are more fragile than we think, and more precious than any marginal decrease in the likelihood of an awful event that's as likely as winning the lottery to start with. Just because it has the name "USA" and was once the home of a free people doesn't mean it always will be.

 

[mempilot]

I am much more afraid of an American police state than I am of being blown up by terrorists. It would be a real bummer to be on a plane captured by suicide bombers. It would be a real bummer to get eaten by a shark while diving. These things are awful, but they are very low probability. That's one of Schneier's [see my earlier post] key points about risk: our instincts cause us to overemphasize low-probability risks with really dramatic bad outcomes, and not worry about the little things that will kill us subtly, with high certainty. Reason has to take over from instinct or we make bad choices.

Democracy and civil liberties are more fragile than we think, and more precious than any marginal decrease in the likelihood of an awful event that's as likely as winning the lottery to start with. Just because it has the name "USA" and was once the home of a free people doesn't mean it always will be.

And that is why this country is so great, and so vulnerable at the same time.

Just so you know, I would not bash anyone for grasping so tightly for that which was fought for by the founders of the country. I admire it.

I, however, would be willing to compromise some civil liberties when it comes to border security; borders being any line a person must cross to get into this country. ie physical, airport, seaport, etc... I believe there is a police state that can exist at the borders that would not impede the liberties of the citizens. Strong border protection lessens the pressure on airport security. Neither are adequate in my mind.

But, I agree, that it is a double-edged sword, and I don't pretend to know the ultimate answer.

 

[Tom Winters]

"I have no problem whipping my nipples out for security (in fact get a few ales into me an' I will show 'em to anyone)but to fair there must be an area they take people for strip searches?"

I wish women were this patriotic. If you leave your top on the terrorists win

I have to agree with Azza on this one.
113 posts and unrecoverable bandwidth could have been saved just by flying with Nake@d Air.

 

[DandyDon]

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?

Jail time for abuse of trusted authority position? What do we do to cops who assault women? Many might call that excessive but it would certainly send a message to the rest in the system even it was just a month. Oh sure, it'd bog down in court and they'd get off with probation at the worst, but it'd still be a strong statement to the rest.

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.

Yeah, I have few problems at Lubbock than I do other airports. I'd think my age would make it easier for me, and sticking a USMC pin in my hat probly helps some. There was one overbearing butt there I used to run into, but haven't seen him lately. I got to wonder if he was there and it was his idea.

Well, she got her apology...

TSA: We're Sorry About the Whole Nipple Thing - TMZ.com - Entertainment News, Celebrity Gossip and Hollywood Rumors

TSA: We're Sorry About the Whole Nipple Thing

Posted Mar 28th 2008 7:30PM by TMZ Staff

The Transportation Security Administration has officially changed their screening process regarding nipple rings.

Today they acknowledged that they may have gone too far by having a woman remove her nipple rings during a stop at airport security clearance in Lubbock, TX.

The TSA posted the following statement on their website: "TSA acknowledges that our procedures caused difficulty for the passenger involved and regrets the situation in which she found herself. We appreciate her raising awareness on this issue and we are changing the procedures to ensure that this does not happen again."

Hooray for nipples everywhere!

Longer article: TSA to change procedures for passengers with body piercings

 

[DennisS]

I am much more afraid of an American police state than I am of being blown up by terrorists. .

Democracy and civil liberties are more fragile than we think, and more precious than any marginal decrease in the likelihood of an awful event that's as likely as winning the lottery to start with. Just because it has the name "USA" and was once the home of a free people doesn't mean it always will be.

Our civil liberties won't be taken all at once, they will be eroded over a period of time, by well meaning people that think control of the populace is a good thing.

Would anyone dare vote against something called the patriot act? It didn't take long to get that one written.

TSA removing someones nipple ring is minor, there will be many more instances of over zealous enforcers stepping over the line. A lot of power has been handed out since 9-11 and a lot of control has been removed.

 

[BabyDuck]

mem & others, i don't mind restrictions that seem reasonable. for instance, the rule as i recall it used to be pocketknives with blades less than 4" were ok - so maybe that's not ok any more. but nail clippers? if i'm going to cause real damage with nail clippers, it would take me so long the flight would be over. now, if there really really *is* a danger from someone wielding nail clippers, if i was aware of it, i'd be more gracious about it. and i don't get the water rule *at all*. so make everyone take a sip if you're worried it's sulfuric acid...

and i think it was tom smedley who was talking about hijackings being passe. i agree. i think we could go back to allowing boxcutters and knives, anyway, since we'd put some serious hurting on anyone trying anything. yeah, we *used* to go along, but that just ain't happening anymore. passengers now will put themselves in harm's way.

and i'm with azza. i'll show mine! (they haven't caused any airport trouble so far. i guess they think they're underwires or zippers...)

 

[Tom Smedley]

Jay Leno had a cute skit last night. He showed the Grand Lady? woman? person? of Litigation declaring that in her extensive research nipples are not dangerous weapons. Then they showed some sort of flick where this woman was wearing metal cups with spikes over her breasts and when she appeared to have an orgasm she blew the top of a mountain off with ligntning bolts from the spikes.

So you just never know - there are two sides to every confrontation.

 

[ianw2]

Every time I see this sort of story, I am reminded of the quote attributed to Franklin:

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Ms. Allred got her apology. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out, now...

 

[DandyDon]

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