Posted on 10/15/2009 2:17:43 PM PDT by neverdem
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has introduced legislation with colleagues to allow the transportation of legal firearms on Amtrak trains. The Amtrak Secure Transportation of Firearms Act of 2009 is the companion measure to legislation introduced in the Senate by Senator Wicker.
"Amtrak is a great way for Montanans to get around the country, but folks shouldn’t have to forfeit their Second Amendment rights when they climb aboard," said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and a recipient of the Golden Spike Award. "Current restrictions prevent Montanans who wish to legally transport firearms from enjoying the convenience of Amtrak travel. It’s time to protect gun rights, whether you travel by plane, train or automobile."
The Amtrak Secure Transportation of Firearms Act permits travelers to transport firearms from Amtrak stations that accept checked baggage as long as the firearm is declared and carried in a hard-sided, locked container. Current Amtrak policy prohibits weapons, including firearms, from being carried on its trains. This legislation would extend the same benefits currently afforded to airline passengers.
Rehberg recently joined the Second Amendment Task Force which works with gun rights’ groups such as the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America to defend the Constitutional right of Americans to bear arms.
"I appreciate Denny's continued work in the House to protect Montanan's Second Amendment rights," said Gary Marbut, President of Montana Shooting Sports Association. "The federal and state prohibition of self defense or transporting firearms on trains is long overdue for correction. Such laws only inconvenience law abiding people but have little effect on criminals."
If Amtrak wants to get business and leisure travelers, they should strive to be EVERYTHING the airlines are not. Trains are uniquely situated to have separate smoking cars for long-haul trips with their own ventilation. Wi-fi and maybe cell service should be available throughout or mostly throughout. Powered outlets, or even USB ports for recharging cell phones, Ipods and Laptops should be all over. The list goes on.
Sounds like infringement to me!
Amtrak is not a good way to get around the country. :P
To get to Austin from Dallas takes about three and a half hours or so by car. Less if you speed.
By Amtrak, it takes 6 hours 40 minutes assuming no en route delays (and there almost always are some). The train usually departs nearly empty. Amtrak doesn’t care about the service or the lack of patronage, they don’t have to compete at all. In fact, they only have to answer to Congress, and Congress now thinks that pouring money into them is a wonderful idea.
I’d be willing to bet that there are plenty of people traveling with guns on Amtrak - they don’t check!
Usual Suspects Attack Wicker Amendment (Amtrak to allow packing checked baggage firearms)
We have been reporting a lot lately about Bloomberg’s anti-gun group “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” (MAIG), which has built its membership by selling itself as a group solely interested in fighting “illegal” guns. A look at its agenda, however, clearly shows that fighting criminals is not what this group is about. Instead, MAIG has focused its efforts on promoting new gun laws and regulations and on furthering its anti-gun agenda in the courts.So it comes as no surprise that Bloomberg would also come out against the Wicker amendment. Speaking from Penn Station on September 20th, Bloomberg said, “If anyone in Congress thinks that the threat of a terrorist attack on a train has gone away, they are sadly mistaken. And the American people will blame the Senate if a terrorist attack does occur.” He went on to say, “The legislation allowing guns on Amtrak was passed because of ideological politics—not public safety.”
Bloomberg was joined by a contingent of local mayors, as well as anti-gun Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D), who concluded, “This shows that the [National Rifle Association] has too much influence over Congress.”
If it isn’t on your hip, in your pocket, or in a shoulder rig, you aren’t carrying, and you have z-e-r-o personal protection.
And yes, it IS infringement.
Carry. Always. Everywhere. As discreetly as possible.
Civil Disobediance will win the day if enough of us do it.
If they search you on Amtrak, then DON’T use AmTrak. If they don’t search, then use AmTrak.
F**k ‘em.
One handgun on each aircraft, with frangible ammunition, on 9-11-2001, could have SAVED 300 innocent lives. But that Right was denied, and people died.
I wonder if anyone did a study on how many people on those aircraft on 9-11-01 had Concealed Carry “Permits” (I need “PERMISSION” to exercise my RIGHT???) and couldn’t carry on the aircraft? Couldn’t even have access to ANYTHING that would repel a couple lunatics with Box cutters?
And that we, AMERICANS, meekly accept it, just absolutely BAFFLES me.
But as Nugent says...I must be weird...
Make that 3000 (thaousand) lives on 9-11-01. Sorry.
at that point the ole 'vote from the rooftops' will be the only recourse...
If some stupid requirement is NOT an Infringement, then make all the COPS do it, too! LOL. See how THEY like it!
If some stupid requirement is NOT an Infringement, then make all the COPS do it, too! LOL. See how THEY like it!
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