Traveling via Amtrak

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frostbiker

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My lil' sister asked if I could help her move this weekend. That means I have to drive the big truck while she follows along in her car. It's a one-way trip for the rental truck and I have to take the train back to town when I'm done.

I do plan on carrying for the trip down, but am unsure about riding the rails with my pistol packed away for the return leg. Anyone know about train travel and CHL in Texas or elsewhere? :confused:

If it is a no-go for the pistol, I'll respect that and do the trip without. No way in heck I am leaving that pistol with my little sister. Not that I don't trust her, but....I don't trust her.
 
I believe AMTRAK, as a common carrier, is a restricted mode of transportation (like an airliner), and you would have to give the weapon to the operator. Good luck with that. I think Fed Law has got you on this one.

TC
 
Having ridden Amtrak at least once a year for the last five years or so, I'm pretty sure that they do not allow the shipment of firearms in baggage. I also know that they do no searches whatever of luggage, either carry-on or checked. Why you could probably carry a large frame revolver in carry-on baggage and nobody would ever know... I hear. :rolleyes:
 
Something tells me I would be passenger number one for the new baggage check for Amtrak. That would be my luck, wouldn't it? I guess it is ixnay on the istolpay this time around. I'll stick with non-lethal (OC) weapons for now.
 
That does raise a question however, if it is not illegal by law but only disallowed by company policy, you really aren't breaking any laws. Like if the local theater has a no guns policy, but you have a valid CCW and go anyway, the worst they could do if they somehow found out about it is kick you out. Right?
 
Yes, and most Amtrak stations around here are in the worst areas of town and the trains stop only at night.

I tried booking a trip to Camp Perry one year: Southwest Chief to Chicago, then Capitol Limited to Sandusky. There would have been 6 of us but no dice.
 
Like if the local theater has a no guns policy, but you have a valid CCW and go anyway, the worst they could do if they somehow found out about it is kick you out. Right?

Depends on the state. Carrying past a sign in Nebraska is a misdemeanor and grounds for revocation of your permit.

While I think Amtrak's rules suck, you'd be better off not tempting fate. As my CHP instructor said, "Do NOT be a test case!"

Oh, and frostbiker, OC is not "non-lethal" it is "less-lethal." Spray someone with an allergy, asthma, etc. and you'll see it can be quite lethal. Still better than harsh words!
 
Perhaps we should all write letters to Amtrak expressing our dissatisfation of their no-firearms policy. If enough people complain, they'd probably change the regs. If firearms in checked baggage is safe enough for airliners, then it is certainly safe enough for trains.
 
I believe it does have force of law. I am not 100% sure though but I assumed since it is heavily funded by the feds it was illegal to bring a firearm on board.

I could be wrong but I am not sure. It really bothers me that I cannot carry on Amtrak according to their policy but I cant even carry in my homestate which bothers me even more...
 
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