Amtrak could soon permit passengers to store firearms in lockboxes aboard most of its trains, a move critics argue would weaken security following the recent arrest of a man who travelled by rail with guns and allegedly attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump.
The proposed policy change, under consideration since early this year and reportedly backed by the Trump administration, would allow guns on over 1,500 trains daily, including routes in the Northeast Corridor, instead of only a few dozen long-distance trains with locked baggage cars. Two sources familiar with the plan told the Associated Press that the railway has not abandoned the proposal despite Saturday's incident.
Cole Tomas Allen was arrested after allegedly trying to breach security near the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, armed with a shotgun and semiautomatic pistol he had brought from California aboard an Amtrak train. It remains unclear whether he complied with current rules requiring declaration and secure checking of firearms. Amtrak declined to comment on his case, and his lawyer maintains his innocence.
Under the new proposal, lockboxes would be installed on all trains, with conductors holding the keys. However, critics question how the railway would verify legal gun ownership and comply with varying local laws, such as New York City's strict permit requirements. John Feinblatt of Everytown for Gun Safety said the change would 'only make Americans less safe'.
Security concerns are heightened by the fact that Amtrak does not screen passengers or luggage, and in unstaffed stations, passengers can board before a conductor checks tickets, leaving a gap before firearms could be secured. Sheldon Jacobson, a security expert, noted the vulnerability, though the railway and Transportation Department have not commented on the policy's fate.
