Aaron1124
Regular Member
imported post
So I had to take a few buses today for business reasons. The buses I was on were Metro, Sound Transit, and Pierce Transit. I was CCing rather than OCing, just because my jacket covered my pistol..
However, when I hopped on the Pierce Transit bus, I was the only one on with the bus driver, and I decided to spark up a conversation with him about firearms on the bus.
Here's as close to how it went:
Me "So.. you have any experiences with passengers open carrying their firearm on the Pierce Transit bus?"
Driver "Oh, yeah.. actually it's not allowed! But I personally don't care, cause I'm a hunter, active shooter and big time gun advocate, but our management doesn't allow it"
Me "Oh, well did you know that Washington State has a preemption law that allows the carry of firearms on public transportation?"
Driver "Well I know they have a preemption law, but we as drivers are given strict orders. Actually, if we see anyone with an exposed firearm, then we're ordered to radio in to dispatch with a code word, and transit security will show up on the scene and escort the passenger off of the bus, because it's not allowed"
Me "Really?? Do you know if there are any written policies on that?"
Driver *Pulls out a Pierce Transit guide with the rules in it, and points to the rule that says "No unlawful firearms or weapons allowed on the bus"
Me "Oh, there it says that no *unlawful* firearms are allowed on the bus, which basically allows the lawful carry of a sidearm in an exposed holster, right?"
Driver "I wish it did, but our drivers immediately call dispatch and report an armed passenger, and there will be a lot of security on the scene. My advice is, if you're going to carry, then just conceal it, and don't let the bus driver see it"
My stop was coming up, so I cut the conversation short, but I kept the conversation at a reasonable level without starting an argument.
Later on, I called Metro, and just out of curiosity, I asked them their policy on passengers carrying firearms on their bus. I know the law, but I was curious as to what kind of knowledge they have on it.
Here's how that conversation went on the phone
Me "Hello, I was curious if you could tell me Metros policies on passengers carrying firearms on the public metro bus?"
Metro Person "It isn't allowed. At all. No explosives of any kind, including guns aren't allowed on metro buses or property"
Me "Interesting. Thanks for the information, although Washington State Law says otherwise"
Metro Person "Huh? Well none are allowed on our buses. Have a good day" *Hangs up*
It's pretty discouraging to know that our public transit operators actually admit that they will call security on a passenger lawfully carrying his sidearm on the bus.
So I had to take a few buses today for business reasons. The buses I was on were Metro, Sound Transit, and Pierce Transit. I was CCing rather than OCing, just because my jacket covered my pistol..
However, when I hopped on the Pierce Transit bus, I was the only one on with the bus driver, and I decided to spark up a conversation with him about firearms on the bus.
Here's as close to how it went:
Me "So.. you have any experiences with passengers open carrying their firearm on the Pierce Transit bus?"
Driver "Oh, yeah.. actually it's not allowed! But I personally don't care, cause I'm a hunter, active shooter and big time gun advocate, but our management doesn't allow it"
Me "Oh, well did you know that Washington State has a preemption law that allows the carry of firearms on public transportation?"
Driver "Well I know they have a preemption law, but we as drivers are given strict orders. Actually, if we see anyone with an exposed firearm, then we're ordered to radio in to dispatch with a code word, and transit security will show up on the scene and escort the passenger off of the bus, because it's not allowed"
Me "Really?? Do you know if there are any written policies on that?"
Driver *Pulls out a Pierce Transit guide with the rules in it, and points to the rule that says "No unlawful firearms or weapons allowed on the bus"
Me "Oh, there it says that no *unlawful* firearms are allowed on the bus, which basically allows the lawful carry of a sidearm in an exposed holster, right?"
Driver "I wish it did, but our drivers immediately call dispatch and report an armed passenger, and there will be a lot of security on the scene. My advice is, if you're going to carry, then just conceal it, and don't let the bus driver see it"
My stop was coming up, so I cut the conversation short, but I kept the conversation at a reasonable level without starting an argument.
Later on, I called Metro, and just out of curiosity, I asked them their policy on passengers carrying firearms on their bus. I know the law, but I was curious as to what kind of knowledge they have on it.
Here's how that conversation went on the phone
Me "Hello, I was curious if you could tell me Metros policies on passengers carrying firearms on the public metro bus?"
Metro Person "It isn't allowed. At all. No explosives of any kind, including guns aren't allowed on metro buses or property"
Me "Interesting. Thanks for the information, although Washington State Law says otherwise"
Metro Person "Huh? Well none are allowed on our buses. Have a good day" *Hangs up*
It's pretty discouraging to know that our public transit operators actually admit that they will call security on a passenger lawfully carrying his sidearm on the bus.
