https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-union-station-shooting-20210824-qqa5gb7pcfbgzhw5xkgeimv6cq-story.html
I love happy endings!
So then, is it permissible to carry a firearm while a passenger on Amtrak? I'm really out of the loop on that, haven't ridden Amtrak in decades. But I assumed there would be TSA type check in requirements.
There are no TSA checkpoints comparable to those at airports at any station.
It's part of the entertainment package.
Convicted OneSo then, is it permissible to carry a firearm while a passenger on Amtrak?
As result of Senate action in 2009 you can check a limited amount of arms and ammunition (11lb. handguns, 50lb. long guns) and you can find the rules in Amtrak's 'prohibited baggage' policies. Note that black-powder and similar arms are always streng verboten!
I am advised that Amtrak often uses state personnel to enforce the onboard firearms policy, despite "federal" charges being potentially involved. This might take the form of state or local police meeting the train upon suspicion.
CSSHEGEWISCHThere are no TSA checkpoints comparable to those at airports at any station.
Back when I was working VRE would periodically have dogs and their handlers patrol significant stations that they served.
I don't know what the dogs sniff specialization was - drugs, firearms, explosives.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Thanks to all who have responded. So it might be fair to speculate that this traveler chose Amtrak over air travel due to the lesser degree of screening?
Convicted One So then, is it permissible to carry a firearm while a passenger on Amtrak?
So then, is it permissible to carry a firearm while a passenger on Amtrak?
And an "altercation" inside escalated to a shooting that injured a by-stander outside New York's Penn Station
Man Shot Outside NY Penn Station After Dispute Inside Transit Hub: Police – NBC New York
The lesson is clear, we need to get rid of Amtrak, it attracts idiots willing to use firearms
Backshop Convicted One So then, is it permissible to carry a firearm while a passenger on Amtrak? No, criminals don't follow the law.
No, criminals don't follow the law.
While you can with limitations as outlined by Overmod. When was the last time you went through a x-ray machine at any train station?...
BEAUSABRE The lesson is clear, we need to get rid of Amtrak, it attracts idiots willing to use firearms
So do bank branches in supermarkets.
BEAUSABRE And an "altercation" inside escalated to a shooting that injured a by-stander outside New York's Penn Station Man Shot Outside NY Penn Station After Dispute Inside Transit Hub: Police – NBC New York The lesson is clear, we need to get rid of Amtrak, it attracts idiots willing to use firearms
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
BaltACDI don't know what the dogs sniff specialization was - drugs, firearms, explosives.
There's K9's that specialize for each category. Pretty amazing animals!
Just out of curiosity: Was the train routed to the eastern end of the concourse intentionally for this incdent, or is track 28 or 30 normally where the Zephyr arrives?If the former, great move on everyone's part! The fact that this incident occurred during a seemingly uninterrupted rush hour should not be lost on people. Everyone involved at Amtrak did his/her job well.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Gunman was wanted for murder in California. Police had notified Amtrak Security that he was on the train (great job, but how? Video? Tipster?), who met the train
"WMAQ-TV reports police had obtained high-definition video surveillance showing Taylor carrying out the fatal shooting of a 55-year-old man in Oakland on Saturday. An arrest warrant had been issued Tuesday morning for charges including murder and illegally possessing a gun as a felon, among other allegations. Taylor had previously been convicted for making criminal threats, attempted grand theft, and commercial burlgarly, among other crimes."
Yes, but banks and bars serve a valid, useful purpose and contribute to our society
BEAUSABRE Yes, but banks and bars serve a valid, useful purpose and contribute to our society
I suspect the direction this thread has turned fairly well illustrates why so many former members may have moved on?
Convicted OneI suspect the direction this thread has turned fairly well illustrates why so many former members may have moved on?
Not mentioned here so far is the timing, which may have influenced the non-involvement (not just non-participation) of the U.S.Marshal Service in the arrest. Someone with more interest than I have can look at the time the arrest warrant was actually issued vs. the time Amtrak was apprised of the warrant status (the latter, apparently, only the Tuesday morning corresponding to the train's arrival).
It may well be there was only time for Amtrak to re-route the train to a controlled or distant location and have its own officers present. I am tempted to say that some excuse for delaying the train indefinitely due to 'METRA congestion' would probably have been accepted by anyone on the train as believable...
I confess my original suspicion was that everyone waited until Taylor was in a jurisdiction notorious for assuring that people who use deadly force against cops don't survive. That may not be the case with Amtrak's police -- but it might be interesting to see the training and experience of the officer in question, not that I'm criticizing him or what he did in any way.
OvermodConvicted One I suspect the direction this thread has turned fairly well illustrates why so many former members may have moved on? I suspect the original topic name did as much or more in that respect than its subsequent 'discussion'.Not mentioned here so far is the timing, which may have influenced the non-involvement (not just non-participation) of the U.S.Marshal Service in the arrest. Someone with more interest than I have can look at the time the arrest warrant was actually issued vs. the time Amtrak was apprised of the warrant status (the latter, apparently, only the Tuesday morning corresponding to the train's arrival). It may well be there was only time for Amtrak to re-route the train to a controlled or distant location and have its own officers present. I am tempted to say that some excuse for delaying the train indefinitely due to 'METRA congestion' would probably have been accepted by anyone on the train as believable... I confess my original suspicion was that everyone waited until Taylor was in a jurisdiction notorious for assuring that people who use deadly force against cops don't survive. That may not be the case with Amtrak's police -- but it might be interesting to see the training and experience of the officer in question, not that I'm criticizing him or what he did in any way.
I suspect the direction this thread has turned fairly well illustrates why so many former members may have moved on? I suspect the original topic name did as much or more in that respect than its subsequent 'discussion'.Not mentioned here so far is the timing, which may have influenced the non-involvement (not just non-participation) of the U.S.Marshal Service in the arrest. Someone with more interest than I have can look at the time the arrest warrant was actually issued vs. the time Amtrak was apprised of the warrant status (the latter, apparently, only the Tuesday morning corresponding to the train's arrival).
I suspect that based on the time #6 arrived, Open track space decided track #30. I first thought that there was no gate with #30 on it. I think the last door serves #26 & #28 but then I remembered the run trough track on the East. But since the Amtrak Police were on the platform and waiting, this could have been by design. Would like to know whether Amtrak somehow arranged to delay the other passengers so he was the first one off? If so, praise is due Amtrak. And he saved the taxpayers the cost of a trial. Also, if he bought a ticket and it was to Chicago, perhaps the thinking was to let him think he had gotten away cleanly and don't spook him. That could have been a worse outcome.
I read about that on FB. Was like the wild west, but Amtrak PD took him down. There was a shootout a few years ago on Texas Eagle in Dallas, we heard news about because some people from St. Louis were riding. Dallas PD spotting 2 suspicious characters in station, he was a known drug dealer and PD followed them on the train. As soon as the guy saw them, he started shooting, but cops killed him and wounded his lady friend who was arrested. People were jumping off the train and running. The car was cut out as crime scene and people were moved into different cars. Eagle was several hours late arriving in St. L, but nothing new about that. Had to be scary. Amtrak does not screen passengers, so someone can sneak on with a weapon and I am sure they do. Law enforcement are allowed to carry I think and you can check weapons in baggage car. When parents and I were coming home from CA on SP/UP City of St. Louis years ago, there were 2 AF MP's and 2 prisoners in our car. They had been caught robbing stores in Hawaii, court martial and sentenced to 5 years at Ft. Leavenworth, they had to fly from Hawaii but ended up on our train. The MP's had big guns on their hip and we were concerned the prisoners might try to grab them. One MP sat on aisle with each prisoner who sat against the window. When they walked to diner, 1 MP in the lead, 2 prisoners and other MP in the rear. If one prisoner had to use restroom, one MP went with him. This was a 2 day trip, but they were handcuffed when they were taken off at KC to get a bus coming for them from the Fort. They looked very subdued, reality was setting in. I told a River Runner conductor about it a couple of years ago when I found he was AF MP before he worked for Amtrak. He said they would have never got their guns, they were trained to punch guys in face, he had broken many noses and knocked teeth out.
Just wanted to add that Amtrak cops are very visible in Chi, as I am often there transferring from one train to another. A couple of years ago, I was waiting in Met lounge for the City of New Orleans and some lady started yelling on the upstairs level. Another man and I had been talking to her earlier, she had spent the night on a couch as she missed her connecting train the night before so they let her stay. Then she started talking crazy and we left. The Amtrak PD responded and the Chi PD took her to a hospital for a psych hold. And same day, I was eating in the entry to lounge and Amtrak cops were wrestling with a man outside the window, he was on drugs or drunk as they kept fighting and shortly Chi PD arrived and took him away too. I had never seen that much interaction between Amtrak and Chi PD but glad it is there for situations that need it.
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