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Guns on Trains Could Derail Amtrak

Posted by: Alek Miller
Thanks to: Streetsblog LA
28 October 2009 - 1:00pm

The Senate transportation spending bill, signed last week, contains a provision requiring Amtrak to allow guns on its trains or lose its funding.

"'We don't think we'll be able to do that March 31 deadline, and, of course, finding the funding to make all of that happening,' said Amtrak spokesman Steve Kulm. Failing to meet that deadline and missing out $1.5 billion in appropriated funds, its entire funding request for 2010, would bring a 'cessation of train service nationwide,' Amtrak Chairman Thomas Carper wrote to appropriators last month."

Full Story: Fight to allow weapons aboard Amtrak trains could derail transportation bill
Source: The Hill, October 25, 2009
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Guns and Trains

Submitted by Ken Firestone on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 17:16.

It looks like they just want passengers to be able to have guns in their checked baggage, not on their person. But Amtrak does not have secure baggage checking facilities at all stations, creating a problem.

Guns On Transportation

Submitted by Charles Siegel on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 15:50.

They should be consistent and also add a provision to the bill allowing guns on airplanes.

That would save us all the trouble of security screenings. Instead, we could just shoot it out with terrorists.

And if a passenger was unruly, was refusing to obey instructions, and was carrying a gun, the stewardess could shoot it out with the passenger.

Charles Siegel

As long as the stewardess used her plane gun...

Submitted by Esullivan on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 16:44.

...and not her house gun or car gun ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_ttWAlRpnA&feature=related

When guns are outlawed, only outlaws...

Submitted by Esullivan on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 14:23.

Jesse James must be grinning in his grave. As a frequent Amtrak rider, I'm somewhat less thrilled, given the number of times since 2001 I have personally witnessed drunk and disorderly passengers being forcibly removed by law officers at unscheduled stops. Drunk, disorderly and armed does not auger well...

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