Amtrak and guns

[Santa Cruz Arms]

Hmmm. I can't remember the last time I was on a train or bus, so I have not thoroughly looked into this. I just spent about 15 minutes doing some quick research. But as far as breaking CRIMINAL law, there seems to be an exemption for LTC holders:

I won't post the entire penal code section.. just the relevant portions:

California Penal Code Section 171.7:

a) For purposes of this section:
(1) "Public transit facility" means any land, building, or
equipment, or any interest therein, including any station on a public
transportation route, to which access is controlled in a manner
consistent with the public transit authority's security plan, whether
or not the operation thereof produces revenue, that has as its
primary purpose the operation of a public transit system or the
providing of services to the passengers of a public transit system. A
public transit system includes the vehicles used in the system,
including, but not limited to, motor vehicles, streetcars, trackless
trolleys, buses, light rail systems, rapid transit systems, subways,
trains, or jitneys, that transport members of the public for hire.
(2) "Sterile area" means any portion of a public transit facility
that is generally controlled in a manner consistent with the public
transit authority's security plan.
(3) "Firearm" has the same meaning as specified in subdivision (a)
of Section 16520.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly possess within any
sterile area of a public transit facility any of the following, if
the sterile area is posted with a statement providing reasonable
notice that prosecution may result from possession of these items:
(1) Any firearm.
.
.
.
.

(c) (1) Subdivision (b) shall not apply to, or affect, any of the
following:
.
.
.
.
(2) Paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) does not apply to or affect a
person who is exempt from the prohibition against carrying a handgun
pursuant to Section 25400 if the carrying of that handgun is in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the exemption specified
in Article 2 (commencing with Section 25450) of Chapter 2 of Division
5 of Title 4 of Part 6 or Sections 25615 to 25655, inclusive.

It looks like there is clearly an exemption for LTC holders in CA.

WIth that said, it would seem to me that it would then fall into the same category as a sign prohibiting firearms on private property. If they found out the could ask you to leave. If you did not, you could be charged with trespassing.

I briefly looked at Amtrak's policy regarding firearms having to be in checked baggage, unloaded, locked, declared; can not be in carry on, etc. At the end of the policy it states:

"Passengers failing to meet the above-mentioned requirements for checking firearms will be denied transportation"

Again, it seems as if their remedy is to deny you boarding or to ask you to leave.

I am not a lawyer and have not researched this fully so don't take the above as correct, but it sure seems like the case. Hopefully someone with some greater knowledge of this can chime in.


.

[4DMASTR]

I didn't know the hounds go forr ammo.

When I was in High School the drug dog would alert on my jacket every time. I was clean they asked a few questions including shooting with the jacket, and that's what they said was throwing the dog and I was instructed to not wear the jacket anymore. Not sure about live ammo but i guess some are trained to detect spent powder...

[Decoligny]

Hmmm. I can't remember the last time I was on a train or bus, so I have not thoroughly looked into this. I just spent about 15 minutes doing some quick research. But as far as breaking CRIMINAL law, there seems to be an exemption for LTC holders:

I won't post the entire penal code section.. just the relevant portions:

California Penal Code Section 171.7:




It looks like there is clearly an exemption for LTC holders in CA.

WIth that said, it would seem to me that it would then fall into the same category as a sign prohibiting firearms on private property. If they found out the could ask you to leave. If you did not, you could be charged with trespassing.

I briefly looked at Amtrak's policy regarding firearms having to be in checked baggage, unloaded, locked, declared; can not be in carry on, etc. At the end of the policy it states:

"Passengers failing to meet the above-mentioned requirements for checking firearms will be denied transportation"

Again, it seems as if their remedy is to deny you boarding or to ask you to leave.

I am not a lawyer and have not researched this fully so don't take the above as correct, but it sure seems like the case. Hopefully someone with some greater knowledge of this can chime in.


.

If I am not mistaken, since AMTRAK is Federally subsidized and travels interstate, it is the Federal law that we are dealing with here, not just the CA PC. This is why the law forcing Amtrak to allow guns was passed in Wash D.C., not Sacramento.

[sfpcservice]

there was an Amtrak cop with a dog on the platform and then when we departed he came through the train with his dog sniffing luggage. I was glad (at least for the moment) that I had left my gun at home.

I'm not sure if that would matter... Could the dog distinguish your firearm from the officer's? I'm not sure if they are trained to alert on gun smells....?