Amtrak and Firearms In Checked Baggage

For the trip I take (between Denver and Lincoln), it tends to actually be cheaper than flying. It takes longer (about eight hours), but the allowable size of your carryon means I can bring a blanket and pillow and sleep on the way. It also helps that the schedule means it's a night trip both directions. That, and there's just something fun about a train ride. I bring my laptop and watch movies for a while, then head down to the dining car for a beer or two and some conversation.

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I hate Amtrak's gun ban, and I hate their government subsidies

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I think federal code prohibits carry on interstate common carriers, at least they have the power to regulate it.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00000922----000-.html

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped; except that any passenger who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in interstate or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition into the custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such common or contract carrier for the duration of the trip without violating any of the provisions of this chapter. No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.

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longwatch wrote:

I think federal code prohibits carry on interstate common carriers, at least they have the power to regulate it.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00000922----000-.html

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped; except that any passenger who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in interstate or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition into the custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such common or contract carrier for the duration of the trip without violating any of the provisions of this chapter. No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.

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Thi sstatute does not forbid gun carry on AMTRAK or any other means of public transportation - it is an anti-gun running statute.  There is no federal law probiting gun carry on AMTRAK, Greyhond, etc.

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longwatch wrote:

I think federal code prohibits carry on interstate common carriers, at least they have the power to regulate it.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00000922----000-.html

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped; except that any passenger who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in interstate or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition into the custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such common or contract carrier for the duration of the trip without violating any of the provisions of this chapter. No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Thi sstatute does not forbid gun carry on AMTRAK or any other means of public transportation - it is an anti-gun running statute. There is no federal law probiting gun carry on AMTRAK, Greyhond, etc.

Click to expand...

Tomahawk wrote:

I hate Amtrak's gun ban, and I hate their government subsidies

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As much as I hate the subsidies I have to say that if air travel had to pay all of its own costs, it would cost at least double what it does. If Amtrak was subsidized at the same passenger mile rate as the airlines, we could have coast to coast high speed trains.

That said, I love to travel by train for many of the same reasons: comfort, lack of being violated, relaxation and seeing the scenery.

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Mike wrote:

longwatch wrote:

I think federal code prohibits carry on interstate common carriers, at least they have the power to regulate it.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00000922----000-.html

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped; except that any passenger who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in interstate or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition into the custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such common or contract carrier for the duration of the trip without violating any of the provisions of this chapter. No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Thi sstatute does not forbid gun carry on AMTRAK or any other means of public transportation - it is an anti-gun running statute. There is no federal law probiting gun carry on AMTRAK, Greyhond, etc.

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Read the bold section. It can be legal IF it is delivered to the conductor for transport. Amtrak conductors will not accept them. You might be able to argue that since it was on your person you didn't "deliver" it to anyone, but I doubt you would find a judge that would buy that argument.

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longwatch wrote:

I think federal code prohibits carry on interstate common carriers, at least they have the power to regulate it.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00000922----000-.html

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped; except that any passenger who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in interstate or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition into the custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such common or contract carrier for the duration of the trip without violating any of the provisions of this chapter. No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Thi sstatute does not forbid gun carry on AMTRAK or any other means of public transportation - it is an anti-gun running statute. There is no federal law probiting gun carry on AMTRAK, Greyhond, etc.

Click to expand...

Section 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms
Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver's compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

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I think federal code prohibits carry on interstate common carriers, at least they have the power to regulate it.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00000922----000-.html

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped; except that any passenger who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in interstate or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition into the custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such common or contract carrier for the duration of the trip without violating any of the provisions of this chapter. No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.

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