North Richland Hills nipple-ring wearer gets award

Rawlins Gilliland, says:

If any man on this planet qualifies as a feminist advocate I most certainly do.
But to applaud this women being praised as a hero because she was self-centered enough (on a bad day) and clueless enough (on a good one)...to be wearing any metal on one's person going through (duh) metal detectors at airports after 9/11 (duh) then what’s next? Someone being praised and honored as a hero because they attempted to take a full sized bottle of Prell shampoo through security when for two years the 2-3 ounce rule applies? Reward the wench we wore metal gladiator boots that could not be removed without a special key that was left at home? Touted as a feminist rebel because they wore an under-wire bra and refused to let the security people scan her breast area?

Maybe we can all be rewarded for all the times any of us have been self-important and held up the line at the airport because we either could not read what the 'new (6-7 years) rules' are. Or when we simply refused to believe they applied to us. Let's call it the Dumb-and-Broad Rebel Trophy to be awarded (natch) by the ever-protective-of-victimized-women icon Gloria Allred.

*Yes the same women who not that long ago testified that men falsely accused of fathering a child by a woman who knowingly falsely accused him under oath........ should still pay child support because said male 'accepted that the child was his'. Yep, that's the woman who 'awarded' Ms. Hamlin for her 'brave' defiance of metal detection federal airport laws in a time of war.*

Ashley Lyell, says:

I really do see your point, but at the same time she offered to be pulled aside and show them the nipple rings and the TSA refused - said she had to take them out before she could board. That's the point where I see them taking it way too far. If they had let her step out of line and show an agent, problem fairly averted. But forcing her to remove them? What good does removing them do in this situation versus a patdown? Especially when they didn't force her to remove her navel ring. Are the terrorists creating bombs out of nipple rings specifically now?

Rick Yost, says:

You know, I think it's great that this chick forced the TSA to change their ways, but a hero she's not. An idiot maybe.

I knew the last time I went through airport security I'd be asked to put my watch, phone, keys, and pocket change into one of those little baskets. It's a 'metal' thing! That's why when I travel I don't wear my 'helmet-stud'.

And that whole thing with the pliers makes me shudder.

Rawlins Gilliland, says:

Ashley. I understand what you say, and yes, it makes sense. But none of us should be wearing our metal body piercings when going through a metal detector we clearly knew we would be put through at any world airport.... NONE of this is new. What was new to this women was, contrary to what she thought, the rules and laws we all must follow when we fly in the 21rst century applied to her. The piercings she wears are her business. Except when she attempts to wear them when in line at an airport security. At which point it becomes everyone's problem.

PS: Returning home recently from Fresno, the middle aged woman in front of me began screaming when, after insisting that she had ‘no liquids’ in her carry on, and it being taken off the X-Ray line and checked and ….voila……. tons of jars and bottles of cosmetics and makeup and juices, etc. She screamed as they confronted her,,,,,,,,,,,she who had lied……… and cried as they confiscated her face cream that she insisted cost her $300. (It was clearly not working). We were all delayed, she created a ruckus.... and I finally let her have it and the entire crowd applauded. (Me. Not her.)

Ashley Lyell, says:

I agree with you - people need to know about all of the new rules and regulations before they fly. Face cream lady sounds insane and she has no excuse for her behavior whatsoever. Before October 2007, I hadn't flown in 5 years. Nerd that I am, I went on the TSA website to see what I had to stuff into a plastic bag (do they honestly suspect people of making liquid eyeliner bombs?) so I could be prepared and not cause any problems with my lack of knowledge.

What really bugs me about this entire fiasco is how it was handled by the TSA - they caused a bigger scene than she did by refusing to let her step into a private screening area and show the piercings. People just lift up their shirts to show navel piercings all the time, no problem. Why was THIS situation so different to the TSA agents? Just bugs me, that's all - I'm all about consistency.

Rawlins Gilliland, says:

My bet this that because this issue was her breasts, the potential for ramifications in a litigious society was too dicey to do a 'look see'. Translation: She'd show her breast piercing(s) and then she would get a call from Gloria Allred and be on GMA talking about the woman agent who 'violated' her by 'making' her show her breasts. Take that one to the bank. Almost.

Scott Doyle, says:

Ashley obviously hates America.

I can see where both sides are coming from. If I were one of the security peeps, I certainly wouldn't let anybody by if the detector goes off...I'd also give unlikely suspects the evil eye every chance I got. No stone goes unturned, granny! (I don't think I'd have a job very long, btw)

I applaud this lady for enacting the change she felt necessary and leaving it at that, rather than suing Boeing for making planes she had to go through TSA to get on.

Who cares if she gets some ridiculous award? If this story motivates other people to whine about the TSA, Rawlins will surely yell at them anyhow. All is well in the universe, imo.

Rawlins Gilliland, says:

Postscript: I'm American Platinum and traveled, shall we say, a bunch, and have, yes, more than once seen piecings set off alarms although it's been a while. Kennedy (NYC) and Heathrow (London) to name two. But according to my cousin who works for American, it's, like earrings, etc; a crap shoot if and when they do...so I would (guess) it has something to do with size (see? Size matters!) since sometimes a regular belt of mine will set off an alarm while other belts with metal buckles don't.

My bottom line: Instead of this woman raising her blouse, I'm automatically raising my eyebrow at any 'hero's' award given by the Al Sharpton of pseudo-feminism, Gloria Allred.

Scott Doyle, says:

tmi, DC.

Scott Doyle, says:

Clearly if you'd have gone behind the curtain and taken it out rather than complaining, you wouldn't be in this predicament.