It's funny Amtrak will now allow people to have guns on the train. Peace train anyone?

[PretzelWarrior]

Or should it be called "Piece Train"? I bring this up because I share Peace Train's sentiment about all this gunnification of our society.

WTF? I can carry a gun on the train, national parks, restaurants/bars? Churches?

We are a seriously emotionally fucked up country.

[Ian David]

1. You can put your gun in Amtrak's checked baggage, just like on a plane. n/t

[PretzelWarrior]

2. so what? if trains can have guns then I should be able to bring my own water onto a plane

how about that?

[Ian David]

4. Sure. You can bring your own water in checked baggage. n/t

[PretzelWarrior]

5. nope. the restrictions on firearms were put into effect after 9/11 and then Madrid bombings

so since we are obviously ok with relaxing standards of precaution around ACTUAL WEAPONS, then I think it would be okay if I bring my own freaking bottled water or possibly have more than 4 oz of shaving cream in my business carryon luggage.

This is a miserable sop to the gun lobbyists and gun lovers. I've been immersed in heavy rural and gun toting life and a more urban life. These kinds of laws that help promote a gun centric society are stupid and dangerous.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

10. How are unloaded firearms riding in the luggage compartment dangerous?

[PretzelWarrior]

12. luggage compartments are far more accessible on Amtrak than on a typical commercial flight

most Amtrak routes have stops along the way where someone can get their weapon if they so choose.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

15. So, you say amtraks are not very secure at all...

I agree.

What was (or is) to stop someone with malicious intent from bringing a gun onto the actual train - hidden or out in the open?
Nothing. If someone desires to commit a crime, a regulation with no physical security will not deter or stop them.
The previous rule did NOTHING to stop or prevent crime and EVERYTHING to restrict right of people not interested in criminal activity.
It was a stupid rule... stupid people advocate for stupid rules.

The change in rule is to allow the law abiding citizens a protected method to bring a gun with them, from point A to point B, legally. If someone is legally allowed to posess a firearm at point A and point B - there should be nothing restricting safe transportation of the person and that firarm together.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

16. Nope?!? You cannot bring liquids on your checked bagagge?

I'm almost you can check a multitude of things in your checked baggage that you cannot carry on a plane.
Seems pretty consistent with the airlines policy on certain things allowed to be checked, but not carried by the passenger.

[harkadog]

11. Anyone can bring water on planes.

You just can't bring it through security. After security you can fill up an empty bottle from the fountain, which many people do, or buy water from one of the shops. No big deal.

[PretzelWarrior]

13. that's a really stupid and disengenuous remark. what about mother's milk? juice?

you're not answering the direct facts. Cigarette/tobacco lobby successfully got lighters exempted from bans. I guess SC Johnson, Proctor and Gamble and others need to use their $$$ heft to get us back to a normal ability to carry liquids onto planes. Unless this is some stupid way for them to sell even more of their overpriced travel sized bottles (which wouldn't surprise me, by the way).

[harkadog]

20. The only thing stupid is you thinking water can't be brought aboard planes.

Somebody must have seen you coming. You take an empty container through security and fill it up with free water from the water fountains. Or fill it with anything you want. Then take it aboard. I do it all the time as do countless others that I see doing the same thing. Wake up. You can take any size container aboard -- not just travel size.

[whistler162]

3. In their checked luggage...

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

"Amtrak would lose its federal subsidies if it doesn't put a system in place by early next year to check and track firearms so that passengers can legally put the weapons in their checked baggage, the Senate voted Wednesday."

""Unlike the airline industry, Amtrak has no system in place for a uniform system of screening for weapons," Carper wrote. The railroad has no secure loading areas, and trains make multiple stops, he said. Employees also would need intensive training."

[PretzelWarrior]

6. what's the standard for transporting firearms on Greyhound?

oh by the way. If I'm in a federal building, my rights should not be infringed. I need them to give me a secure area before security checkpoint where I can store my weapon before I go in to see the IRS, etc.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

18. does greyhound receive federal funding like amtrak?

Currently, guns are not allowed on a geyhound in any matter.
I suspect if greyhound does receive funding like amtrak they will be mandated to allow firearm transportation in short order.

[provis99]

7. does their policy apply to grenades, too?

or does this run up against the "interstate commerce" clause.

[benEzra]

21. Generally speaking, NFA Title 2 restricted ordnance and NFA Title 1 civilian guns

are subject to different rules in a lot of areas. FWIW, grenades are as tightly controlled in the USA as 500-lb bombs, and there are damn sure special regs for transporting them. And no, you can't check them through in your luggage, whether on a plane or a train.

[demosincebirth]

8. Never seen an organization (NRA) have so much power in this country, aside from the KKK, years ago.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

9. You are mistaken, you cannot "carry" a gun on an amtrak train.

You may however put an unloaded secured weapon into your checked baggage... no different than on an airplane.
Your hysteria/concern is really not needed so you can now rest piecefully at night (or on an amtrak train).

[PretzelWarrior]

14. I will continue to make noise about our disturbing fascination with a"need" to have a gun

at all times. It's actually ones who feel the need to always carry a gun that are the "gun wusses"--not those of us who feel it is getting ridiculous.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

17. Lovely sentiment, but guns on amtrak trains will not be carried...

So they will not "have" the gun on the train... despite thier "disturbing fascination with the need to always carry a gun".
This mandate to amtrak is simply a mechanism to allow passenger the lawful transport (NOT carry) of firearms. It only allows more freedoms to people who are law abiding - these aren't the people one has to worry about.

[TheWraith]

22. Why does it bother you so much?

So some people carry a firearm with them. Maybe in their area or in their job they need it. Maybe they don't. What skin is it off the rest of us if they're allowed to lock it up and put it in the baggage car when they take the train? People with licenses to carry a concealed weapon are two thirds less likely than the national average to commit a violent crime, so it's not like they're putting us in danger. Hell, they're something like 35% less likely to commit a violent crime than a police officer.

[Generic Brad]

19. Does this apply to the car the Veep rides?

Please tell me Vice President Biden has stopped traveling by Amtrak.

[nemo137]

24. It's about checked baggage, not carrying in the car.

Basically, if you've going hunting in another state, you can now take the train.

[mwooldri]

23. In which case, I'm electing to travel in the "Gun Free/Phone Free" car. nt