Do you support allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains?

[Nye Bevan]

14 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Yes
	10 (71%)
	No
	4 (29%)
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[madville]

1. Sure

They're allowed on airliners, remove the human element and it's no threat to anyone if it's checked and properly stored in the luggage compartment.

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. checked unloaded.. what is the harm?

[Mojorabbit]

19. I know right? nt

[rocktivity]

3. Fine, if it's unloaded, locked in a hardshell case minus ammo

Last edited Fri Feb 16, 2018, 05:01 PM - Edit history (3)

and declared beforehand. Just like on the airlines.


rocktivity

[Snobblevitch]

4. I'm not an Amtrack rider,

but I don't know why anyone would care about this. I am quite sure most Amtrack passengers (or airline passengers for that matter) would not even be aware that there were firearms being transported in checked luggage.

[Adrahil]

5. Checked, unloaded, properly secured? Why not? n/t

[Hoyt]

6. Except in rare instances folks should keep their guns at home, and be restricted to only a few.

Hunting, and maybe target shooting (as long as targets resembling humans are not used) are the only reasons I'd support for private gun owners transporting guns. I'd support use of every available technology to detect those who can't leave home without a gun.

[friendly_iconoclast]

13. "I'd support use of every available technology to detect those who can't leave home without a gun."

Words that shall live in history:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11729858

[Hoyt]

14. Fond memories, a thread of hurt feelings from the gungeon.

[friendly_iconoclast]

31. "(H)urt feelings"? More like a ever-renewing source of amusement...

...and real-life examples of the Dunning-Kruger Effect. The gibes of the politically ineffectual
carry little, if any, sting.

[Duckhunter935]

36. nope, just making fun

of the nice comments left by the pro-control crowd. You people get so creative with the insults.

[Hoyt]

38. Having to be nice on a message board.

[Duckhunter935]

41. One side has to be

the other not so much as you can tell by the insults that have been posted.

[Hoyt]

42. Nothing nice about hoarding gunz and strapping them on to walk down the street.

[beevul]

43. Mhmm.

[Duckhunter935]

45. Most of us here do not do that

but since when have facts mattered

[NaturalHigh]

46. What about self defense?

What if I shoot someone who is breaking into my house? Should I be prosecuted? Should I sacrifice my family's safety to satisfy your anti-gun agenda?

[Hoyt]

47. If someone is breaking in your house, that's one thing. Walking down the street, practicing to shoot

people, promoting guns, raising your kids in gun culture, keeping more than one or two, etc., are very different.

Hope you've learned the difference.

[pipoman]

7. It isn't as much about support or not support as it is

'I care' or 'don't care'....seems to me most people wouldn't give a shit.."support" may be a little strong...

[frylock]

8. Why wouldn't I?

[Duckhunter935]

9. yes, same as with the airlines

checked, locked and unloaded. More scare tactics that people think weapons will be in carry on bags. They will not be. This is the same rule that the airlines use now.

[Aerows]

23. It's an odd question

Isn't it? Why not, it's checked, gun isn't loaded, and that's that.

[Duckhunter935]

24. it stems from some misinformed

people thinking guns were to be allowed as carry on items and trying to scare people. Once facts are known that it is checked and handle the same way airlines handle weapons, it becomes silly nonsense.

[Aerows]

27. Gotcha

It's shit stirring, in other words.

[Cheese Sandwich]

11. Of course. People should place guns in checked baggage instead of bringing it on the train.

[jmowreader]

35. You're not allowed to bring it into the passenger areas

What do a gun checked as baggage and a pair of socks checked as baggage have in common? You can't get to either one before the train comes to a complete stop.

[onehandle]

12. Guns have been proven to be a danger and a menace.

Amtrak has been taxed enough by the GOP. Why heap more problems upon them?

[friendly_iconoclast]

32. Amtrak has been doing this for several years now. What 'problems' has it caused?

[friendly_iconoclast]

49. Seems my interlocutor found the question too difficult to answer...

[davidpdx]

15. I support gun control, but checking a gun in a luggage is the same as checked baggage on a plane

I'm assuming it would have to be unloaded. If people are allowed to pack a firearm in luggage on an airline flight, why not on the train? Now allowing guns in the passenger compartments, no. I see much bigger issues to be dealt with on guns and policing then this trumped up issue.

[Cheese Sandwich]

16. Yes it has to be declared 24 hours in advance and the rules are very strict

http://www.amtrak.com/firearms-in-checked-baggage

[davidpdx]

20. Thanks for the info

I've taken Amtrak many times, but the last trip was in 2009 with my wife. I don't own a gun so I have no idea how it works.

We got on the train at a tiny little station in the middle of no where (actually at the time there was no actual station, but there is now) and took a 20 hour trip to get a major city where we flew back to Korea. It wasn't really worth it given we had to take a long flight afterward, but airfare from the nearby airport was really expensive. Anyway at the "station" they had just finished building the new concrete platform and stairs, but didn't have any other parts of it up at that time. My wife and I still joke about how weird it was to get the train there.

[Control-Z]

17. Checked baggage on a train

is quite different than on an airplane. It's stored on the train. I had access to all 4 of my checked bags while I traveled Amtrack around the country. It was stored in an area near my bedroom along with all the other checked bags in that car. Just not the same measure of safety.

[davidpdx]

21. There is some question as to whether the bags are allowed in the same compartment or not

From the link in post 16:

All firearms and/or ammunition must be checked at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled train departure. Some larger stations require that baggage be checked earlier. Please contact your departure station for more details.

This appears to be saying that baggage with firearms are not allowed in the passenger compartments, but it is not 100% clear. There very well could be a baggage car where over-sized baggage (like skis, etc.) are stored. It does not seem like they would just allow firearms (even unloaded ones) in the passenger compartments. That would be idiotic.

[Cheese Sandwich]

25. "Once you drop the bag off you will not have any access to it until the final stop"

[davidpdx]

34. That totally makes sense

and goes to show why people are blowing that way out of proportion. As I said earlier we need to focus on gun control and gun safety instead of gotcha politics.

[petronius]

18. I have yet to hear a reasonable explanation for how this could be a problem...

[friendly_iconoclast]

29. There's the defining word, 'reasonable'

There have been some objections that may kindly be described as "less than informed"...

[Aerows]

22. I have no idea why this would be a problem

if they are unloaded and checked.

[Bonobo]

26. As long as they are legal, why not?

I support the non-existence of firearms, but as long as they exist, why not?

[uppityperson]

30. Legal gun, in checked bag, sure. Why not? I don't see the problem here, would be happy if someone

who thinks it is a bad idea would let me know why. Thanks

[linuxman]

33. It' s very interesting how the poll doesn't match the thread replies.

Won't some of you step up and let the rest of the thread participants know why? I'm being completely serious. I want to know.

[Duckhunter935]

37. good question

I would like to hear the reasoning behind that choice.

[Snobblevitch]

39. I never vote in on-line polls like this because

I believe them to be mostly meaningless.

[MH1]

40. If it's otherwise fully legal. Also, the firearm must be unloaded, AND

no ammunition can be shipped in the same container. i.e. a person with ill intent would have to open at least two bags to use it.

Edit to add, because I see I made an assumption: only if the checked bag is NOT in the passenger compartment.

I think the post should include a "maybe, with certain restrictions" option - that would be a closer reflection of my view. (I chose Yes)

[Lizzie Poppet]

44. Checked and unloaded? Sure.

If passengers don't have access to checked baggage, so I fail to see any legitimate reason not to allow this.

[Recursion]

48. Lots of hunters travel by rail to their trailheads

You can fly with firearms checked; I can't imagine why Amtrak shouldn't allow it.