TSA at Amtrak Austin

[MeMelYup]

We need:
A person with a Texas CHL may not be stopped from traveling on private or public mass-transit within the state.

[Andrew]

We need:
A person with a Texas CHL may not be stopped from traveling on private or public mass-transit within the state.

You have to remember that Amtrak is a Federal Choo-Choo. No Texas legislation can or will alter their policies or operations.

[MeMelYup]

I know.

[carlson1]

Hate to dig up a topic in resting, but after reading this thread I am still confused.

I have read their policy, but I could care less what their policy is.

Is it legal for a CHL to carry on an Amtrak train from Dallas to San Antonio?

[alvins]

what I cant believe is you can go through airport security with a Costco card because it has your name and photo.but my chl is worthless even though I had to pass a background check to get it. our government at work.

[Keith B]

Hate to dig up a topic in resting, but after reading this thread I am still confused.

I have read their policy, but I could care less what their policy is.

Is it legal for a CHL to carry on an Amtrak train from Dallas to San Antonio?

No. Amtrack is a federally funded company ran as a for-profit corporation. So, the train is federal property and you can't carry on it. They will allow firearms in checked baggage but they have to be declared ahead of time http://www.amtrak.com/firearms-in-checked-baggage" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[carlson1]

Thanks Keith.

[MotherBear]

CHL and armed on a train in Texas = Yes? / No?

Very much a no.

Is that also true of things like the metro rail in Austin? It appears to be legal on the Cap Metro buses, but I couldn't find anything about the trains. Sorry, I'm not up on mass transit... but the kids enjoy the occasional train ride downtown so it would be good to know for sure!

[chasfm11]

"Random security checks are voluntary, but a way to keep criminal activity from taking place on-board."

So if you refuse they let you board anyway?

That's a great question.

No. The screening is voluntary, just as it is at airports. If you won't voluntarily submit to screening you can't board.

I don't believe this is correct. Once you are at an airport checkpoint, you no longer have the option to simply decide not to fly and not submit to the screening. They call LE and have you arrested. Your only option was to stay home. I don't know about Amtrak. I believe that there were a couple of stories where passengers were "selected" for the advanced screening and declined. Things did not go well afterward.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1 ... ravel.html

[Keith B]

CHL and armed on a train in Texas = Yes? / No?

Very much a no.

Is that also true of things like the metro rail in Austin? It appears to be legal on the Cap Metro buses, but I couldn't find anything about the trains. Sorry, I'm not up on mass transit... but the kids enjoy the occasional train ride downtown so it would be good to know for sure!

The Metro rail in Austin is owned by the city so they can't prohibit concealed carry by a license holder. Same with most city or county owned mass transit. Amtrak is federal, so that is the difference.

[texanjoker]

unarmed TSA... boy that will stop them. I wonder when TSA will get weapons...

[gthaustex]

unarmed TSA... boy that will stop them. I wonder when TSA will get weapons...

I'm sure they will sooner, rather than later. Pretty much very fed agency / group out there has some group of agents or investigators that are armed. I can see them using the argument that if you just arm TSA agents at the checkpoints, then the city or airport no longer has to use local LEOs to provide physical security at the airports. Voila, TSA gets armed and local jurisdictions save money / manpower. I pray that never happens.

[MeMelYup]

Texas needs to start its own choo choo that runs in Texas and bordering States (Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico).

[bdickens]

Time to write the legislative representatives again.

“The security at airports has increased so the bad guys are now traveling on the trains and buses,” said Robinson.

Since when is TSA's job to catch "bad guys"?

TSA doesn't want to catch the bad guys. TSA wants to cavity search them.

Anygunanywhere

Wrong.

They want to cavity search 90-year-old grandmothers and 12-year-old girls in wheelchairs while giving the bad guys a pass.

[philip964]

Since we are talking about Amtrak, I will relate a story of an acquaintance.

Single, and a train nut. Retired from a big oil company and bought a one month rail pass and decided to see America by him self.

Got on the Amtrak in Houston headed East. The Train stopped in New Orleans for an hour layover. Got off the train and started photographing the train, the engine, etc. Amtrak employee asked him what he was doing. Kinda pestered him with questions until an Amtrak security officer arrived. Who continued to pester him with questions. Until the New Orleans police arrived where he was arrested and put in a "hell hole" of a jail in downtown New Orleans.

Got out just in time before Katrina hit. Ended up providing his home in Houston for the attorneys who got him out of jail.

Never heard how his criminal or civil case worked out. But he didn't end up seeing America on Amtrak.

So you don't have to be carrying a gun to have problems with Amtrak, a camera is enough.