Senate votes to allow Amtrak riders to carry guns in their checked baggage

The Associated Press reported recently that the U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to permit riders on the Amtrak passenger railroad to transport handguns in their checked baggage.

The report says the proposal was approved by a 68-to-30 vote, and would give Amtrak riders rights comparable to those enjoyed by airline passengers, who are permitted to transport firearms provided that they declare they are doing so and that the arms are unloaded and in a securely locked container.

Current Amtrak policy, which prohibits weapons, including firearms, from being carried on its trains, was put in place after the bombings of passenger trains in Madrid five years ago.

From the story:

"Americans should not have their Second Amendment rights restricted for any reason, particularly if they choose to travel on America's federally subsidized rail line," said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who made the proposal.

Wicker's amendment would deny the money-losing railroad its $1.6 billion taxpayer subsidy unless it changes the gun policy.

...The chief author of the underlying transportation appropriations bill, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), said implementing the policy would be too costly.

"Amtrak would have six months to build a process for checking and tracking firearms. It would have to find the manpower necessary to screen and guard firearms and it would have to purchase the equipment necessary," Murray said. "If they do not comply, Amtrak will shut down."

Wednesday's vote was the latest in a string of victories for gun rights activists in the Senate despite Democrats' sizable majority. Some 27 Democrats, including Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, voted for the amendment, many from Western or Southern states. Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who aligns with Democrats and is one of the chamber's most liberal members, also voted on the pro-gun rights side.

The story concludes by noting that the legislation still must be reconciled with a House-passed measure that does not contain the gun-rights provision.