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Passengers Now Able to Travel with Guns on Trains
(IRN)-Passengers will soon be able to carry guns in checked baggage aboard some Amtrak trains. Gun rights advocates pushed Congress to reverse a near decade long gun ban on the government owned railroad.

Beginning Dec. 15, passengers can pack unloaded, cased guns aboard trains that have checked baggage service. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says there are fewer than 200 stations where one can check luggage, and many routes that are short in length don't check luggage.

For example, Magliari says of the five daily trains to Chicago from Springfield, four of them are Lincoln Service trains that allow only carry-ons. Just one train, the Texas Eagle, checks baggage and would accept guns as checked luggage.

Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, believes this is just the first step in making rail friendly to sportsmen. He believes as high speed rail comes into the picture, additional trains will carry baggage and allow firearms.

"I think this is just the first step," Pearson said. "Years ago people got on the train and they shot buffalo from the windows. Firearms and trains are not strangers to each other."

Gun owners must inform Amtrak officials 24 hours ahead of departure and guns must be in locked, hard sided containers for storage in train lockers.

Magliari says rail cars are being retrofitted with weapons storage lockers.

(Illinois Radio Network)
12 02 10 by Newsroom
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