Mandi Hamlin and Piercings Gone Bad

Mandi Hamlin, a 37-year-old Texas woman claims a Transportation Security Administration agent forced her to remove a nipple ring with pliers in order to board an airplane. The woman was trying to board a flight from Lubbock to Dallas on Feb. 24 when she was scanned by a Transportation Security Administration agent.

Mandi Hamlin told TSA officials that the body jewelry could not be removed, and she would rather have shown her breasts in private to a female agent. The female agent as well as her male colleagues refused, stating that she would not be allowed to board the plane with the body jewelry intact. The woman reluctantly went behind a curtain to remove the jewelry, however, pliers were needed for one of them. The skin often heals around the jewelry making it very difficult to remove without painless effort.

Hamlin's attorney is Gloria Allred, a well-known Los Angeles lawyer who often represents high-profile claims. She plans to bring this case to the attention of many TSA Officials, readers and future passengers in an attempt to advocate for civil rights and liberties. Mandi Hamlin claimed that she could hear male TSA agents giggling and making rude comments about her, and felt that she is owed an apology from TSA and its agents. Hamlin was also confused as to why she could board the plane with a belly-button ring in, which was not removed.

I have been through the agonizing situations at the airport with TSA also, but one thing I wish to comment on is this: We are all very aware of TSA's screening process by now. They have a civil duty to us, the passengers, to enforce all TSA policies to ensure our safety. When you are going to be traveling by plane, you should have already known what to expect. TSA makes their policy readily available on their website at http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm .

All metal items must be removed prior to boarding a plane. There are no exceptions other than medical devices, that are accompanied by a physician's letter. I had to remove, earrings, necklace and rings upon boarding my flight. I wore no under wire undergarments, and took care choosing my clothing. It is recommended to travel in lounge type clothing that has elastic waistlines, easily removed jackets, sweatshirts or shoes.

I have seen this quite a bit with people who are stopped upon boarding, to remove clothing or bodily items. This is a delay not only for themselves but for other passengers as well. All rules should be read prior to arriving to the airport, to avoid this kind of humiliation.

As far as an apology, I have no doubt that she is likely owed one. Mostly for the way the TSA Agents may have handled the situation. Making a passenger feel uncomfortable or humiliated in any way is unacceptable and should be discouraged. Changing their policies would be unfortunate, as it is our safety that is in question. A passenger should be required to remove all metal objects from their clothing, pockets, purses or even undergarments and body before boarding a plane. I would feel unsafe on flights, if people were allowed to carry on anything that could be used as a weapon, even nipple bars or rings.

Gloria Allred made a statement to TSA and CBS News: "The last time I checked, a nipple was not a dangerous weapon." Well maybe not a nipple, but the metal attached to it could very well be. A nipple is not the only thing that can poke an eye out.

I do not condone this type of behavior from the male TSA Agents against a woman passenger, but on a different token, this woman should have known that there could possibly be a delay or a problem with having the nipple rings. They should have been removed at home, and all of this would have been avoided. Wedding rings are not always a target at the airports fro screening, if the ring is flat without any sharp edges, otherwise, they come off, too.