When does the gun lobby stop? Apparently, never.

[mgc1961]

WASHINGTON - A Government Accountability Office study quietly released Thursday has bolstered a Republican senator’s efforts to force Amtrak's rail service to accommodate gun toting riders or face shutdown, Raw Story has found.

The GAO ruled Thursday that an amendment inserted into a transportation funding bill by Republican Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) was permanent law, erasing doubts that Amtrak would have to comply. The mandate would force Amtrak to reverse a longstanding rule banning passengers from bringing guns onto trains instituted after 9/11.

The ruling comes just one week before the cash-strapped rail service must report back to the U.S. Senate with a plan to provide for gun-owning passengers. Wicker's amendment would strip the passenger rail service of $1.6 billion in federal funding if it does not formulate a gun-friendly plan.

More at http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0611/republican-senator-guns-amtrak/

[dmallind]

1. Haven't noticed the gun control lobby shutting down lately either. Why expect just one to do so? NT

[CanonRay]

2. Does this mean we can shoot buffalo from trains again?

Oh goody, party like it's 1880!

[dmallind]

5. What does that have to do with expecting a lobbying group on ONE side of an issue to stop? NT

[benEzra]

18. I dunno, are geese and ducks regularly shot by people on airliners?

You do realize we are talking about reverting to the same rules as apply for airline travel, yes? Considering that your gun would be unloaded, locked inside your checked baggage, and secured inside the cargo hold of the baggage car, I'd say the answer to your question would probably be "no" here, unless you are really, really good at using the Force.

[Caliman73]

38. Which in that case you can use a "Force choke" to bring em down

"I find your lack of faith....Disturbing"

[Euromutt]

20. No; firearms will only be allowed in checked luggage, and kept in the baggage car

It's a return to the situation that existed pre-9/11.

[spin]

37. The truth takes all the fun out of the propaganda. (n/t)

[Hoopla Phil]

23. Was that really done? I mean outside the old fictional "dime novels"

that only used real names and fabricated everything else. Sure would like to read about it if it did. Could you please source/cite that for me?

[oneshooter]

24. OK

http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/stbuff.Html

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/american-buffalo-spirit-of-a-nation/introduction/2183/

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-buffalohunters.html

http://thewest.harpweek.com/Sections/Buffalo/BuffaloHunting1002.htm

Just a few. Google is your friend.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[Hoopla Phil]

25. Thanks,

never knew such a thing was done.

[SteveM]

28. Alligator shooting was done from the decks of Ocklawaha River steamers...

in Florida at the end of the 1890s.

[DonP]

3. Here we go again - just like the Parks Issue

Gun control fans get all excited and tingly when they realize that gun owners are having some rights returned to them.

We went through it for all 48 concealed carry states, for the Starbuck's issue, Iowa going to "shall issue", Arizona going to free carry, the Parks bill that allowed CCW holders to carry in parks etc. etc. etc..

Each time we were assured by people that "think much and know little" that the result would result in a bloodbath and increased incidents of violence.

It was great talking point for a while - until nothing happened.

Then last month we found out that crime, including crime involving guns is at a 25 year low, even in the midst of a recession, which we were assured by the media, would obviously drive crime up.

I fully expect, if the crime number ticks up by 1/10 of a percent anytime in the next year or two, that we will have multiple front page editorials claiming its all those guns that caused it.

Oh, one small issue. DU rules require you to post the actual title of an article you reference, not your editorial comment, as if it mattered.

[beevul]

30. No offense Don...

No offense Don, but you forgot the sunset of the AWB also.

"Each time we were assured by people that "think much and know little" that the result would result in a bloodbath and increased incidents of violence."

Never let them forget it, either.

[DonP]

33. Well, ... I was going to give the AWB issue a pass ...

... since ultimately they did so much good for the gun industry.

By banning AR pattern rifles they inadvertently created a pent up demand that now has dozens of manufacturers producing ARs.

I mean seriously, would any of us thought, back in 93, that S&W of all people would be producing AR's? Not to mention pretty much any machine shop that could get it's hands on a CAD/CAM system and some 6061-T6 forged aluminum?

Damn people made me buy three so far and it's all their fault.

[Hoopla Phil]

4. Is this a different bill that would allow guns in checked baggage? Or is the

article misleading?

[Euromutt]

22. It's the same bill that was enacted into law SIX MONTHS AGO

The law required Amtrak to implement compliance within a year, which means that Amtrak has to start accepting firearms in checked luggage by December 15th of this year. And as far as I can tell, Amtrak has no intention of doing it any sooner than the law requires them to.

So yeah, this is old news. It may be the "raw story," but that doesn't mean it's fresh.

[msongs]

6. prohibiting open carry on public airlines is a violation of god's will nt

[DonP]

7. Very Libertarian of you - close friend of Rand Paul's I assume? ntxt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. I beleive that he was being sarcastic...and you can't put the tag in the title

I am not sure if msongs has any friends.

[DonP]

13. Well, even though he won't speak to her, Rand Paul probably agrees with her.

I could be wrong, but I think she believes she's actually being clever, satirical and ironic.

[X_Digger]

9. *hurk* *hurk* *hurk* *hurk* *SPEW* Aww, someone get a paper towel

Adding to your greatest hits?

"all gun owners must be required to join the militia, like the constitution says nt"
"all gun owners should be required to join the militia, as the constitution says nt"
"gun owners should be required to join the militia - "A well regulated militia being necessary..." nt"
"all gun owners must be required to join the militia, like the constitution says nt"
"are you in the militia as required by the second amendment? nt"
"you only have a right to a gun if you're in the militia per 2nd amendment nt"
"if you're in the militia you have the right to bear arms nt"


"fear of a black president nt"
"gun sales soar as first BLACK president is sworn in - gee wonder who's rushing the gun stores? nt"
" having a black president has way jackkked up gun sales. hmm wonder why? nt"
"fear of a black president + right wing media hysteria egging things on nt"
"racist gun wingnuts and fear of a black president - great for business eh gun shops? nt"
"gun whackos run amok using fear of a black president nt"
" fear of a black president run amok nt"
"fear of a black president by a group which is full of racists lol nt"
"lol sales are way up amongst the fear of a black president crowd...WAY up amongst racists nt"
"fear of a black president is doing wonders for the gun industry nt"
"did they tell you a BLACK man is now president n u should run out n buy guns? nt"
"fear of black president - go out and buy lots more guns nt"
"fear of a black president is swelling your ranks for the most part imo nt"
"driven by fear of a black president, gun sales have soared in the USA :-) nt"


"the toddler was just excercising his 2nd amendment rights IF he was in the militia nt"
"nuclear weapons are "arms". every 6 year old should have some nt"
"should be legal for 5 yr olds to carry at day care centers, after all, the constitution"
"constitutution does not prohibit 5 yr olds from owning guns. free guns for all apt. kids nt"
"guns for everyone, serial killers, 5 years olds, nut cases - constitutional rights ya know nt"
"children have a right to own and shoot guns anytime they wish. no bidg deal really nt"
"students have a constitutional right to carry guns at school...there is no age listed in the"
"all kids should be allowed to carry to school - 2nd amendment does NOT probhibit this nt"
"kids at elementary school should be allowed to carry guns, 2nd amnd. doesnt say adults only nt"
"yes the 2nd amendment allows 6 year olds to take guns to school so lets allow that too :-) nt"
"2nd amendment does not prohibit gun ownership by 8 year olds anywhere they go nt"

"crazies n nuts have a constitutional right to own and use guns too nt"
" legalize al weapons - convicted felons have a constitutional right to guns ya know nt"
"parolees, probationers, nuts, serial killers - everyone has the right to own guns . "
" the constitution does NOT bar serial killers from owning guns...or 4 year olds either nt"
"2nd amendment does NOT prohibit guns on airplanes or in the hands of criminals nt"
"2nd amendment does NOT prohibit felons or 5 year olds from owning guns nt"
"criminals have a constitutional right to carry guns on airplanes - not prevented by 2nd amendment nt"
"terrorists have a right to carry guns on planes, not prohibited by 2nd amendment. nt"
"terrorists have a 2nd amnd. right to carry guns on planes - not prohibited ya know nt"
"terroristsRKBA rights are denied when they cannot open carry on airliners nt"
"terrorists & serial killers have 2nd amendment rights too ya know. nt"
"prohibiting guns on airplanes and in schools = anti-RKBA bigotry right? nt"
"unlimited protection = terrorist RKBA rights to take guns on airplanes nt"
"the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed for any reason at all ever lol nt"

"no righteous killing to get off on in this one? nt"
"let all those gangbangers shoot a bunch of kids - its their righteous killing rights nt"
"so will the resident gun lovers call this another "righteous killing"? stay tuned ..... nt"
"is this another "righteous killing" for the gun crowd to celebrate? nt"
" "another righteous shoot" ..... jesus loves u anyway nt"
"another "righteous killing" for sure - after all that's what guns are FOR nt"
"oh this one is not righteous enough for u lololol. nt"
"the righteous killings are wonderful if a gun is used crowd disagree with you nt"
"another righteous killing in gun land...oh wait, the kid didnt die....yet nt"

[jazzhound]

21. At this point it appears as though she's actually gone beyond

being a pathetic caricature of herself!

[PavePusher]

14. So are Strawmen.

You must defoliate entire tracts of grain-plants singlehandedly....

[benEzra]

17. And that relates to allowing unloaded guns locked in checked baggage, how?

And what is so scary about treating trains like airliners?

[SteveM]

29. You can keep your god...

Mine says your post was not against his/her will, but constituted pissing on one's own carpet -- and blaming others for the smell; irritating, but not evil.

[Callisto32]

8. So...

people freaked out in a "post 9/11 world" (I HATE that phrase, it's the same world, people) and instituted a ridiculous law. No change in society actually occurred. Now, we realize that this is a needless restriction that doesn't do anything and someone tries to repeal it.

Enter the pants-wetting.

How close am I?

[PavePusher]

15. In 5, 4, 3..... 8>P n/t

[HALO141]

16. I'd say you're "spot" on. (pun intended) n/t

[benEzra]

10. ZOMG THEY'RE TREATING TRAINS LIKE AIRLINERS!!!!!!

BE VERY AFRAID!!!

:eyes:

Seriously, WTF is wrong with treating trains like planes? You do know that you can check an unloaded, locked-away firearm through to your destination on any U.S. airline, yes? And that this law merely allows you to do the same on Amtrak?

Rules for checking a firearm through to your destination on a plane

If proponents of U.S. rail want it to be taken seriously as an alternative to the airlines, then it's going to have to act at least as professional as an airline. The Bush no-guns-in-checked-baggage rule was stupid and needed to be repealed.

BTW, this "zomg the sky is falling" type of PR campaign about it shows exactly why the U.S. gun-control lobby is now defunct. "Gun toting passenger" as a description of someone who checked through an unloaded, locked gun in a hardside case stored in the cargo hold? Is that an honest description to you?

[GreenStormCloud]

12. Why should we stop? We are on a roll. N/T

[Euromutt]

19. This is last year's news, and the article cited is (to put it mildly) tendentious

This measure was enacted into law six months ago. From the Amtrak website (http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Content_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241267293829):

The Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010, enacted into law on December 16, 2009, requires Amtrak to implement the procedures necessary to provide storage and carriage of firearms in checked baggage cars and at Amtrak stations that accept checked baggage, within one year of the bill’s enactment. This requirement applies solely to checked baggage, not carry-on baggage.

Amtrak’s current policy prohibits all firearms, ammunition and other weapons aboard its trains. This includes any being carried on the person, in carry-on baggage or in checked baggage. Please be advised that this policy remains in effect until Amtrak begins firearm carriage service by December 2010.

So what this does is allow firearms to be transported in checked luggage only, which means the firearms will be transported in the separate baggage car, thereby bringing Amtrak back into compliance with the Firearm Owners' Protection Act of 1986.

As far as security is concerned, there are already no practical measures to stop someone with nefarious intent (e.g. terrorists, mass shooters, etc.) smuggling a firearm onto a passenger train, so it's not like this measure is going to make it possible for such people to do anything they were unable to previously. Given that the current Amtrak blanket ban on firearms is mere security theater, there's no good reason not to allow people who want to travel by Amtrak from transporting (note: transporting, not carrying) firearms between places where they can legally possess those firearms, just like they can on commercial airlines.

[Francis Marion]

26. When should a 'rights lobby' stop? Never.

That way blacks don't have to ride in the back.

[aikoaiko]

27. Allowing unloaded guns in locked containers to be checked with luggage should be noncontroversial...

...to even the most obsessed anti-gun rights advocate.


Its really a non-issue.

[Caliman73]

39. not really...

the mere existence of firearms is cause for great emotional upheaval for some. I agree that it is a non-issue to everyone else.

[one-eyed fat man]

31. When in trouble, when in doubt.....

Run in circles, scream and shout!!!



If jumping to conclusions ever gets to be an Olympic sport, you got a lock on the Gold!

[PavePusher]

32. Explain, if you please...

why this would be a bad thing?

[SteveM]

36. I think this was an H & R. And I don't mean Harrington & Richardson. nt

[jody]

34. "When does the gun lobby stop?" The fight to protect unalienable rights will not end until evil is

eliminated from the world.

[SteveM]

35. Gun-controllers keep picking at the scab. Then they bleed all over again...

Go back 45-50 years and no one gave the NRA a second thought during elections. Now they do.

Gun-controllers MADE the modern NRA -- and to this day, they keep the "beast" in fighting trim.

[Bold Lib]

40. What we must never forget. . .

is that the Richard Daleys, the Dianne Feinsteins, the Chuckie Schumers, and the Michael Bloombergs are not going to go away.

http://www.jpfo.org/articles-assd02/any-day-now.htm

[virginia mountainman]

41. Why stop??

We are winning??? It would be folly to stop now...