By Dave Workman
Amtrak’s announcement that it will expand its firearms transportation policy in January has sparked what one national gun rights organization labeled as “unnecessary hysteria” with a spokesman for the Transport Workers Union calling the policy shift “sheer lunacy.”
The war of words broke out Monday with reports that John Feltz, director of the TWU International Rail Division, declaring the plan to allow Amtrak passengers to bring firearms aboard in securely locked cases, which would feature an added TSA combination lock to be opened only upon arrival at the final destination, would somehow endanger passengers and train crews.
According to USA Today, Amtrak actually started phasing in the program on its Auto Train in September.
An announcement from the TWU states explicitly, “Under the new policy, gun owners could bring their weapons in cases to an Amtrak station agent, who would add an Amtrak combination lock. Passengers could then board with their weapons. The station agent at the passengers’ arrival stations would then remove the Amtrak lock.”
The firearms must be declared.
WABC in New York is reporting that the new policy is available for passengers 18 and older, and only on trains that don’t offer checked baggage, and only between staffed stations. On trains with checked baggage, ABC says “existing procedures stay in place.”
But the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms supports the new policy, scheduled to take effect after the first of the year.
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb said Amtrak is “making a sound, common sense decision, and it is being met with a lot of ‘What ifs’ in reaction.”
Firearms would be in double-locked TSA-compliant hard-sided cases, which passengers cannot access during their trip, and be fitted with an Amtrak combination lock for the duration of the trip. The national gun rights organization says the new policy may prevent loss or damage to valuable firearms.
“Your Second Amendment rights don’t end at the railroad tracks,” Gottlieb observed. “If it were up to gun prohibitionists, you would not be able to have your own gun in your own car.”
