Woman Says TSA Forced Piercings Removal

[<*)))><]

"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

 

[mempilot]

Don, I can't answer that question, and I'm not defending TSA. I think they screwed up. But, don't believe for a minute that you are getting the whole story either. Don't you remember the American Airlines O2 thread?

 

[ianw2]

Interesting thread. I don't have much respect for Ms. Alred, but...

I travel by plane about 8 to 12 times a year for business and pleasure. I have found that the sensitivity of the metal detectors is vastly different from place to place and even over time in the same place. For example, my small belt buckle won't be a problem at ONT (my "home" airport) but is usually a problem at SFO, no matter how small the buckle is.

TSA rules change with little advertisement. An example would be the shifting policy on cigarette lighters.

If the nipple rings have cause such a problem, why don't ear rings and other piercings? Why was this woman's belly button piercing not a problem? Isn't this a prime example of arbitrary and capricious application of rules and an abuse of power under cover of uniform? I do NOT care for Ms. Alred or her tactics, but in this case, I hope she pushes for enough zeros to choke a horse - not to feather her already fine nest or that of her client, but to put the fear of the dollar in the TSA.

Finally, the purpose of the screenings is to protect the crew, passengers and people on the ground from terrorist activities in the sky. Can someone please tell me what possible danger there could be in a pair of nipple rings? Certainly far less than the pocket knife I forgot about a few months ago and managed to travel with through three airports across the entire width of the country.

 

[DandyDon]

Don, I can't answer that question, and I'm not defending TSA. I think they screwed up. But, don't believe for a minute that you are getting the whole story either. Don't you remember the American Airlines O2 thread?

Sure. Love to forget but - well did you see how many times I said "this is but one side of this story." TSA did say they were investigating...?

Interesting thread. I don't have much respect for Ms. Alred, but...

Now 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.

I travel by plane about 8 to 12 times a year for business and pleasure. I have found that the sensitivity of the metal detectors is vastly different from place to place and even over time in the same place. For example, my small belt buckle won't be a problem at ONT (my "home" airport) but is usually a problem at SFO, no matter how small the buckle is.

TSA rules change with little advertisement. An example would be the shifting policy on cigarette lighters.

If the nipple rings have cause such a problem, why don't ear rings and other piercings? Why was this woman's belly button piercing not a problem? Isn't this a prime example of arbitrary and capricious application of rules and an abuse of power under cover of uniform? I do NOT care for Ms. Alred or her tactics, but in this case, I hope she pushes for enough zeros to choke a horse - not to feather her already fine nest or that of her client, but to put the fear of the dollar in the TSA.

Finally, the purpose of the screenings is to protect the crew, passengers and people on the ground from terrorist activities in the sky. Can someone please tell me what possible danger there could be in a pair of nipple rings? Certainly far less than the pocket knife I forgot about a few months ago and managed to travel with through three airports across the entire width of the country.

All that I'll agree with...

 

[reefduffer]

If anyone is interested in an ongoing, informed, and professional discussion of the travesty that is TSA, Homeland Security, and the general movement to a totalitarian society that we're experiencing, you may be interested in
Schneier on Security
the blog of Bruce Schneier, who coined the term
Security theater - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I frequently find it an interesting and informative read.

 

[superstar]

My wife is a 4th degree black belt and the tsa lets her on the plane even when I complain to them that her hands and feet are a weapon.. go figure that out.

 

[johnny_bravo]

People, our security procedures are a joke.

this is one of the truest things I've ever read on this board...

I love taking off beach flip flops for inspection...makes me feel real safe on the plane

Cheers.

-J.-

 

[DennisS]

Those people are morons. I went through and sounded the alarm, they wanded me and it went off on my wallet. They ran it through the xray, couldn't find anything had me walk through, nothing sounded and handed me the wallet back and shrugged. I later found a GI can opener in the wallet, they missed it with xray.

I opened up my pack after arrival one time and found my pocket knife in it, it was carry on and I forgot to take it out after a hike.

The inspectors frequently take simulated guns and explosives through without TSA being aware. The excuse I liked was "we're overloaded and can't catch everything" meanwhile they've got 4 people busy tittering over a nipple ring

Extreme Explosion in Tiny Form - Interesting and funny videos that make you laugh at work or at home

Yeah, I feel real safe with TSA checking nipple rings

 

[mike_s]

Cell phones work just fine from a plane as everyone knows from some of the cell phone calls made during 9-11. The problem isn't really with the aircraft, rather with the cell phone system. Do you know how many cell towers a single cell phone call would light up from 35,000 feet. Multiply that by the # of people on an average flight times the # of flights in the air at any time and even if only 10% of the passengers were using their phone at any one time the cell phone system would melt down from overload.

You forgot one of the reasons we can't use our cellphones in flight is that if the airline allowed it, no one would use their seat-back-air-phones that cost $5 per minute.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I cant believe 2 nipple rings could set off a detector as most people were 14g-10g nipple jewelry which is far to small for detectors from my experience. I just flew to mexico (and back ) with a 0 gauge 3/4" prince albert ring and a 6g 5/8" barbel in a frenum piercing in my genitals and with over 2 ounces of stainless in my ears and a 5/8" 14g bridge piercing in my nose and 0g stainless tunnel in my septum. Thats probably 3.5-4 ounces of metal and I didn't set off any alarms except when I forgot my watch on my wrist.

Stainless, true implant grade 316 LVM ASTM F138 jewelry contains little iron but poor quality jewelry contains higher quantities thus making them more apt to set something off.

To avoid problems at security checkpoints I would highly recommend people use the highest quality stainless or titanium jewelry (anatometal or industrial strength make great stuff) or glass and plastic jewelry for the travel portion of your trips.

feel free to contact me for diving with piercing related questions. trav