Guns On Amtrak: Negotiators Address Some Safety Concerns

Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, today commented on new legislative language that would require Amtrak passengers to give at least 24 hours' notice prior to checking luggage containing firearms and ensure that such checked luggage is secure and inaccessible to other passengers:

"It is dangerous for Congress to dictate to Amtrak how to handle guns on passenger trains. Trying to micromanage Amtrak security is inappropriate at best, reckless at worst. But now that Congress has decided to allow passengers to be able to transport firearms in checked luggage on trains operated by Amtrak, at least their negotiators have responded to some of the safety concerns raised by gun violence prevention advocates.

"After the attacks of September 11, 2001 and subsequent terrorist attacks on trains, Amtrak took steps to make their trains safer. But the gun lobby still continues to push guns into every corner of our society, even at the expense of public safety. At least this compromise significantly improves on the dangerous language originally offered by Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi and previously approved by the U.S. Senate."