Posted on 10/28/2009 8:04:39 AM PDT by neverdem
A push in Congress for broader gun rights is threatening to derail Amtrak and stall a transportation spending bill.
Gun-rights advocates in Congress are pressing appropriators to keep a provision that would let Amtrak passengers check in handguns with their baggage.
The provision, which calls for withholding $1.5 billion in Amtrak funding if the policy isn't implemented before April, was inserted into the $68.8 billion Senate transportation and housing and urban development spending bill as an amendment. All 40 Republicans, 27 Democrats and one independent voted for the amendment, sponsored by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
Amtrak and its defenders in Congress have argued that the government-owned train company needs more time and resources before it could allow firearms onto trains.
“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.
Kulm said that Amtrak trains and stations lack security systems seen at airports, baggage cars that are separate from passenger areas and a secure baggage loading area. Under its current policy, only law enforcement officers can bring guns onto its trains.
The Senate bill still needs to be reconciled with a House version that doesn’t include the guns provision.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the appropriator who sponsored the Senate’s transportation spending bill, voted against the provision. Murray is concerned that complying with the provision would be cost-prohibitive for Amtrak, said Alex Glass, a Murray spokeswoman.
Negotiations over the bill are ongoing and that the provision is likely to be one of the last to be addressed by House and Senate conferees, Glass said.
Measures to allow guns on trains have bipartisan support in both chambers.
Senators had adopted another amendment allowing guns on Amtrak trains as part of the budget resolution in April. The provision, which had the support of 22 Democrats, was stripped out of the budget resolution conference.
In the House, a stand-alone bill sponsored by Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) and backed by three centrist Democrats would make permanent a policy allowing guns.
“Amtrak opposes this at their own peril,” said a spokesman for Wicker, Jordan Stoick. “This is a very pro-gun Congress. It has proved that multiple times.”
Gun-rights proponents have noted that Amtrak has allowed passengers’ guns on its trains before, deciding to ban them only after the 2001 terror attacks.
“The most important point is that this would not be a new policy for Amtrak,” said Andrew Arulanandam, spokesman for the National Rifle Association. “This would just be reverting to what was Amtrak policy prior to 9/11.”
The Amtrak provision isn’t the only controversial weapons provision tucked into broader bills.
An amendment blocking Washington, D.C. officials from regulating guns was adopted by the Senate in February as part of a D.C. voting rights bill. Democratic leaders in the House have since withheld consideration of the bill, which would which would give the District a House member with full voting rights. To ease its passage without the gun amendment, Democrats are considering attaching the voting rights measure to the 2010 Defense spending bill.
This month, Congress passed and the president signed into law a conference report for the Homeland Security spending bill that prevents spring-assisted pocketknives from being classified as illegal switchblades. U.S. Customs and Border Protection had proposed changing the definition of those pocketknives, but the NRA and a bipartisan group in Congress opposed the move.
Likely of interest to you.
Yay! Guns save the day again!
....since the Long Island train shooter massacre, people should have the right to armed self defense.
Willie, another reason to drive.
I have this absurd mental image of an armed fascist hijacker on the train holding the engineer hostage and demanding, “Turn this thing around; we’re going to Cuba.”
Then I don't see the problem other than a few Amtrak bureaucrats that oppose the policy. Easy solution...fire them.
If only that were true!
Like every other measure that infringes on our rights as citizens to bear arms. There is not a single crime you can commit with a gun that was not a crime without the gun. Forget depriving citizens of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Concentrate on increasing the penalty for any crime committed with the use of a weapon of any kind.
people ride Amtrak?
Anything that will kill public transportation is a great thing!!!!
Progressive Myths About the Founding Fathers, and Hating Whitey 3/5 rule was for undermining slavery, not to dehumanize slaves!
More Signs of Trouble for 2010 (The rats are scared of conservatism spreading.)
Russian Scientist: 'We should fear a deep temperature drop -- not catastrophic global warming'
Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
If only that were true!
It's much more true than you appear to recognize. What pro gun control bills became law with a rat controlled Congress? The Coburn Amendment became law. The Thune Amendment failed a cloture vote to end debate by just two votes, 58 - 39. The rats are mostly gun shy about gun control in Congress.
Thanks for the ping!
I was thinking of the failure of the Thune Amendmant. That might have had a revolutionary impact on gun rights.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.