Posted on 09/17/2009 11:46:30 AM PDT by neverdem
The Senate voted on Wednesday to allow Amtrak passengers to carry unloaded and locked handguns in checked baggage, even though Amtrak officials had raised concerns that the proposal could present “numerous challenges.”
The provision, which was introduced by Senator Roger Wicker, Republican, as an amendment to a housing and transportation spending bill, is the latest in a string of Senate votes aimed at expanding gun rights. It passed 68-30, with a group of 27 Democrats and one independent, mostly from states where gun rights are widely supported, joining all 40 Republicans in voting for the measure.
Under the Wicker amendment, Amtrak would lose the funds earmarked for it in the must-pass spending bill if it did not comply with the new regulations. In a statement released after the amendment passed, Mr. Wicker stressed that the guidelines laid out in the provision — which would also insist that a passenger notify Amtrak that he...
--snip--
The Democrats who voted for the gun amendment were Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester of Montana, Michael Bennet and Mark Udall of Colorado, Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall of New Mexico, Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Mark Warner and Jim Webb of Virginia, Evan Bayh of Indiana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Bill Nelson of Florida, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Harry Reid of Nevada and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. (The full vote breakdown in a graphic.)
Amtrak used to allow passengers to check licensed guns, but ended the practice after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001...
(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...
Do they think they can hijack an Amtrak and make it fly to Cuba?
There safety record is much better than their “on time” record.
So after 9/11, Amtrak riders could no longer have guns in their luggage. Can’t take the chance someone might actually DEFEND himself, huh!
It’s good to see exactly where Gillibrand stands. She’s batting 1000, votes to keep funding ACORN and votes against gun rights. I can’t wait until she’s voted out. NYers might actually be able to get a Republican, if we’re lucky a Conservative, senator.
Gillbrand never fails to disappont me. What a waste!
Does Amtrak have airport-style security (metal detectors) at every station?
I have no idea.
ETS – Bias or blindness in the Beehive? (Emissions Trading Scheme for carbon dioxide emissions) It's too bad it cost the U.S. $80 billion to find out!
Carter: 'Overwhelming proportion' of animosity to Obama based on race
No Joke (Another video of a California ACORN office is linked.)
Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
There’s such a threat from freedom...
Was it on an Amtrak train in 1993 that the New York black man from Jamaica went wild, and gunned down a bunch of people? Or was that on a subway train? Colin Ferguson, maybe? I think he used a Ruger pistol?
"I'm taking over this train. Take me to Cuba!"
Thanks for the ping!
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