Senate passes measure to allow guns on AmTrack

[gorfle]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/16/amtrak.guns/index.html

"The Senate voted Wednesday to prohibit federal funding to Amtrak unless it allows licensed gun owners to transport their weapons on the passenger trains by next year."

Note this does not allow carry-on-person. Only in checked baggage.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[Taverner]

2. And the Gun Lobby thinks WE'RE the gun grabbers???

Bush passed more anti gun legislation than any president in history

Clinton and Obama passed more pro gun legislation than all the Republicans from the second half of the 20th century

Shove it up your ass, Wayne (as in LaPierre) ...

[YOY]

3. Oh sweet fucking jesus...

I had no idea of the demand to allow guns on our trains.

Fine...as long as they're checked.

[DonP]

4. They are on many (maybe even most) airline flights as well.

With 48 states allowing concealed carry, an increasing level of reciprocity and packed flights, I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't guns checked on "most" flights these days.

Each airline has its own little set of wrinkles for checking them, but I've flown with checked guns before (rifles and handguns) and the rules for flying with them are pretty easy to comply with.

Checked, unloaded, hard sided locked bags, declare that it's in the bag to the airline and TSA. That's about it.

[Hoopla Phil]

12. I agree, this is great news.

I cannot imagine that trains do not allow the transportation of lawful property that airlines do. Just didn't make sense.

[spin]

5. K&R good news! (n/t)

[Tim01]

6. Oh, they are funded? Then just cut the funding.

If they don't want to follow our rules, let them carry their own weight.

[Euromutt]

7. So here's what bugs me about Amtrak's position...

Amtrak spokesman Steve Kulm said firearms had been allowed in checked baggage before the September 11 attacks.
<...>
"Unlike the airline industry, Amtrak has no system in place for a uniform system of screening for weapons," <Amtrak board chairman> Carper wrote. The railroad has no secure loading areas, and trains make multiple stops, he said.

So essentially, there's fuck all to prevent someone who wants to cause havoc on a train from bringing on one or more firearms. For all practical purposes, for the past eight years, Amtrak's idea of terrorism prevention has been to put "Gun Free Zone" signs (and we know how effective those are) on its trains.

So, since those with ill intent can board with guns unhampered, why not let those who don't have ill intent bring guns as well? And Senator Murray, I am so not voting for you in the primary next year. If there wasn't a problem transporting firearms prior to 9/11 (aside from the one I mentioned, which evidently wasn't enough of a problem for anyone to actually do anything about it), why is there one now?

[gorfle]

10. "No secure loading areas"

That's the real heart of the problem here. Since they don't have secure loading/unloading areas for train baggage, and since the train makes multiple stops, it would be no problem for anyone to stop by a loading/unloading area and pick up any baggage that looked like a gun case and steal it.

Of course, with no secure baggage handling areas, it also sounds like it would not be hard to put a bomb on a train, either.

[Euromutt]

14. Was that a consideration in 2001?

I see the point in theory, but I doubt that had anything to do with the implementation of the firearms ban at the time it was imposed. So it rings more than a little hollow to bring it up as an objection to returning to the status quo ante.

[JonQ]

8. OMG! Guns on trains

there will be blood flowing in rivers, just like there were before this was implemented in 2001.

I bet it makes a sloshing sound when the train comes to a stop.

Be sure to wear your raincoats whenever you take amtrak.

[Statistical]

9. That is kinda the reaction on the thread in GD.

Half of the oh noes are "oh noes guns" the other half are "oh noes it will bankrupt Amtrak".

[Hoopla Phil]

13. Yep. It will be just like the airports are right now.

[Hoopla Phil]

11. Good news. No one should be prohibited from transporting lawful personal

property on public transportation.