Can You Carry On Amtrak?

[BonoVox]

Going down to San Diego on the train. Can you carry on Amtrak. I know their website says no. So if you are made at the least you are kicked off the train. But what about laws against it? Even TSA's site routes you to the Amtrak company page.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[P95Carry]

I have always regarded this as no-no but confess I am unsure as to the true legal aspects.

[Doc Holliday]

I would be willing to bet the farm that this is a no-no. I don't have any proof but I would think that it would be regulated much the same way that the airlines are.

[ccw9mm]

Guess: It's a common carrier; if Amtrak, it's "federal" property. Likely, a big no-no, even with CHL. Of course, there's the interstate travel issue, so at a minimum your license coverage would need to be sufficient. But I think it will be off-limits anyway. Silly, but wouldn't surprise me if true.

[Captain Crunch]

Short answer is: No.

Firearms are verboten on Amtrak.

[BonoVox]

In California if it is not otherwise prohibited by law we are ok. I am leaning towards no problem. It seems the Feds regulate air travel. But when it comes to ground travel it is up to the private company to state their policy. But company policy is not law.

Here we can carry in a lot of places that you can't in other parts of the country. "one thing working for us" The no guns allowed signs don't matter. Unless you are made and then they can ask you to leave. Heck I can carry at Disneyland legally with my CCW.

Unless there are federal regulations against it it should be fine. I guess I need to dig further.

[pogo2]

If you start with a Google search on Amtrak you will turn up the company website. Go to the website and look around. You will find the page:

Amtrak Baggage Policy website page

And it says:

Prohibited Items:

The following kinds of items are prohibited as both checked and carry-on baggage:

* Any type of gun, firearm, ammunition, explosives, or weapon.
* Incendiaries, including flammable gases, liquids and fuels.
* Large, sharp objects such as axes, ice picks and swords.
* Corrosive or dangerous chemicals or materials, such as liquid bleach, tear gas, mace, radioactive and harmful bacteriological materials.
* Batteries with acid that can spill or leak (except those batteries used in motorized wheelchairs or similar devices for mobility-impaired passengers).
* Club-like items, such as billy clubs and nightsticks.
* Fragile and/or valuable items, including but not limited to electronic equipment. (Laptop computers and handheld devices may be carried onboard; however, Amtrak accepts no liability for damage.)
* Animals (except service animals).
* Oversized and/or overweight items.

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list. Any item similar to those listed, even if not specifically mentioned here, is prohibited from being carried onboard or checked as baggage.

I have actually ridden on Amtrak in Southern California, and I can say that there is no baggage inspection or metal detection equipment prior to getting on the train. There are special cops walking around the train stations, but they just look at people. So if you are going to break the Amtrak rules and bring a gun on the train, you had better be very discreet about it. If they catch you polishing your gun between Irvine and San Juan Capistrano, you may wind up hitchhiking on the I-5 freeway to complete your journey to San Diego.

[Shizzlemah]

Good info guys.
I think it comes down to the rules of a "law" versus rules of a "policy".

Meaning if you violate a policy, they can revoke your service. If you violate a law, you are going to try and find someone to bail you out!

I have NO experience with amtrack, but do plan on it when I can get my CCW permit in my destination state. I'm more concerned with how to sneak my dog on the train...

[rlsmaritime]

If you read the "conditions of service" on the Amtrak website, you'll discover that transactions with and transportation on Amtrak are governed by the laws of the District of Columbia. Further, as a condition of riding Amtrak, you are agreeing to the jurisdiction of the DC federal and local courts.

Until the Supreme Court finally does away with the total ban on weapons possession currently in effect in DC, it looks like he answer is "no".

[fed_wif_a_sig]

Believe it or not the TSA has authority over Amtrak now. Infact they are setting up inspection stations much like the airports at stations and if you get busted carrying you will be arrested. Depending on what terminal you enter through, be ready to go through a mag or hand wanding.

[Chooie]

Jeez... hasn't anyone seen Under Siege 2: Dark Territory?

[raevan]

I drive everywhere, no planes trains or buses. The Washington ferries have signs stating no firarms unless you are military, LEO, or have CPL. Just the first step to outright ban of guns on ferries. The Ferries are now accompanied by gun boats to keep terrorist boats away. Nice place we live.

[BonoVox]

If you start with a Google search on Amtrak you will turn up the company website. Go to the website and look around. You will find the page:

Amtrak Baggage Policy website page

And it says:

Prohibited Items:

The following kinds of items are prohibited as both checked and carry-on baggage:

* Any type of gun, firearm, ammunition, explosives, or weapon.
* Incendiaries, including flammable gases, liquids and fuels.
* Large, sharp objects such as axes, ice picks and swords.
* Corrosive or dangerous chemicals or materials, such as liquid bleach, tear gas, mace, radioactive and harmful bacteriological materials.
* Batteries with acid that can spill or leak (except those batteries used in motorized wheelchairs or similar devices for mobility-impaired passengers).
* Club-like items, such as billy clubs and nightsticks.
* Fragile and/or valuable items, including but not limited to electronic equipment. (Laptop computers and handheld devices may be carried onboard; however, Amtrak accepts no liability for damage.)
* Animals (except service animals).
* Oversized and/or overweight items.

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list. Any item similar to those listed, even if not specifically mentioned here, is prohibited from being carried onboard or checked as baggage.

I have actually ridden on Amtrak in Southern California, and I can say that there is no baggage inspection or metal detection equipment prior to getting on the train. There are special cops walking around the train stations, but they just look at people. So if you are going to break the Amtrak rules and bring a gun on the train, you had better be very discreet about it. If they catch you polishing your gun between Irvine and San Juan Capistrano, you may wind up hitchhiking on the I-5 freeway to complete your journey to San Diego.

I hear ya. That is all I came up with. Here is the deal. I have a CCW. I go to San Diego a lot because my parents have a condo in downtown. I would like to take Amtrak on occasion but not without my CCW especially because I would be without it the whole time I am there. Weekend, maybe a week. Anyway I am not talking Amtrak across country. Just within the state that I am licensed in.

I have not come up with any law that restricts it and there is no security to speak of. "bad" Yes a long walk down the I5 would be a ****** LOL but what the heck. Concealed MEANS concealed!!

[Smith&Wessonfan]

For the life of me, I do not understand why anyone would want to travel in an American train.

Amtrak sucks the big one. Having taken express trains in Spain and Japan, I can tell you first hand that ours simply suck more than a battalion of Hoovers.

Even if they gave me a FREE gun, I would not ride Amtrak.

As for Washington State Ferries, they can FOAD with their policy.

Mass transit is a socialist wet dream.

[General Geoff]

I like the idea of mass transit to be honest. One of the few principles of socialism that might have limited use, if executed properly. Unfortunately the United States' entire transportation infrastructure is based around personal automobiles, so functional (and useful) mass transit is really only possible on a local scale (big cities like NYC and Philadelphia).

Of course, in a local environment like that, I'd just as soon take a bicycle and get there just as fast, and be a hundred dollars richer and a few pounds thinner by the end of the month.