Guns OK on Amtrak!

[The Unknown 1087]

Senate votes to allo By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Writer – Thu Sep 17, 10:28 am ET

WASHINGTON – The Senate voted Wednesday to permit passengers on the Amtrak passenger railroad to transport handguns in their checked baggage.

The proposal, approved by a 68-30 vote, seeks to give Amtrak riders rights comparable to those enjoyed by airline passengers, who are permitted to transport firearms provided that they declare they are doing so and that the arms are unloaded and in a securely locked container.

"Americans should not have their Second Amendment rights restricted for any reason, particularly if they choose to travel on America's federally subsidized rail line," said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who made the proposal.

Wicker's amendment would deny the railroad its $1.6 billion taxpayer subsidy unless it changes the gun policy.

Current Amtrak policy, put in place after the bombings of passenger trains in Madrid five years ago, prohibits weapons, including firearms, from being carried on its trains.

Prior to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Amtrak permitted firearms to be carried on its trains so long as they were separately secured in locked baggage or carrying cases. But it added restrictions on carrying weapons after 9/11 and imposed a total ban on all weapons after the Madrid bombings.

Wednesday's vote was the latest in a string of victories for gun rights activists in the Senate despite Democrats' sizable majority. Some 27 Democrats, including Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, voted for the amendment, many from Western or Southern states. Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who aligns with Democrats and is one of the chamber's most liberal members, also voted on the pro-gun rights side.

"Law-abiding people who choose to travel by rail should be able to carry their firearms as they would on an airplane — in checked baggage," National Rifle Association spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said.

Opponents of changing the policy back, such as Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., say it would be too costly and burdensome to return to the old policy. Durbin said that "Amtrak doesn't have the security infrastructure, the processes or the trained personnel in place to ensure that checked firearms would not be lost, damaged, stolen or misused."w guns on Amtrak

More at source!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20...rak_gun_rights

[knight0334]

Not yet they aren't... Must pass the House and the Presidents desk yet.

[Al-Mumit]

Currently firearms screening is nonexistent on Amtrak. What's the saying? Concealed means concealed?

I heard a story about someone taking the stock off their 12g and taking it across the state many times in their carry on bag without problems.

[PisnNapalm]

Not yet they aren't... Must pass the House and the Presidents desk yet.

What he said....

[ByAnyMeans]

Currently firearms screening is nonexistent on Amtrak. What's the saying? Concealed means concealed?

I heard a story about someone taking the stock off their 12g and taking it across the state many times in their carry on bag without problems.

I really never knew firearms were restricted on Amtrack. When I was in college I would do this when going from college back home to Long Island, NY. I did not have a good carrying case and it was a beat up 12 gauge for skeet and a short barrel for defense. My only gun for a long time.

It's crazy that an unloaded and locked gun would be forbidden.

[phill]

Please note that Dailey's hand puppet durbin had to come out against it. The same person who is pushing a high speed rail through the center of our small towns to benefit the Chicago area.

[The Unknown 1087]

Not yet they aren't... Must pass the House and the Presidents desk yet.

Whoops sorry, I thought it was already good to go.

[twoeggsup]

Please note that Dailey's hand puppet durbin had to come out against it. The same person who is pushing a high speed rail through the center of our small towns to benefit the Chicago area.

Of course you need a high speed rail line. The S.O.B. (Dailey) closed the GA Airport so he could have a park named after his wife.

I feel for law abiding citizens of IL who aren't connected with Capone... er... Sorry. I mean Dailey.

[phill]

[QUOTE=twoeggsup;912926]Of course you need a high speed rail line. The S.O.B. (Dailey) closed the GA Airport so he could have a park named after his wife.


I always figured that he did that for a place for his casino.

[levib]

Have you seen the news "reports" about this? It's like allowing guns somewhere means it will automatically start having daily shoot-outs between large groups of crazed passengers.