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Virginia Railway Express passengers can now carry firearms on the train--at least in Virginia Date published: 9/19/2009
By KELLY HANNON WOODBRIDGE --Virginia law required the Virginia Railway Express Operations Board to yesterday reverse a policy that banned passengers from carrying firearms on trains.Passengers will now be allowed to openly carry firearms on VRE trains in Virginia, and carry concealed weapons if they have a permit to do so. "People can carry firearms, therefore you can carry them on the train," said Dale Zehner, VRE's chief executive officer. However, Virginia law would not apply once VRE trains cross the Potomac River into Washington. When riders contact Zehner about carrying firearms onto trains, he reminds them that they must comply with D.C. laws if they ride into the city. "It's interesting, a lot of them don't know that," Zehner said. Passengers contacted VRE staff to inform them that the firearms ban violated Virginia law, Zehner said, speaking to Operations Board members yesterday at a meeting in Woodbridge. Subsequently, VRE staff recommended the board change the policy to comply with state law. Only D.C. residents can register a handgun in Washington, however, and the city does not issue carry permits, said Quintin Peterson, Metropolitan Police Department spokesman. So VRE passengers would not be allowed to carry firearms on the train once the train is in Washington, Peterson said. Operations Board members voted to change the policy, although members expressed mixed opinions. Operations Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman, an Arlington County supervisor, said he's concerned that the change will send the wrong message, encouraging passengers to bring guns onto the train and possibly get into legal trouble in Washington. "I think encouraging people to bring guns onto loaded trains is a stupid idea," Zimmerman said. Stafford County Supervisor and Operations Board Vice Chairman Paul Milde said he disagreed with Zimmerman "100 percent on this." Milde said there's no evidence that allowing passengers to carry firearms will lead to an increase in violence, and that allowing firearms could lead to a decrease. "I don't know that people feel like the government is capable of protecting them in all places at all times," Milde said. Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436
candy lost get over it the voters decided they didn't want candy
Didn't know anything about this. There are already law
enforcement officers (plainclothes and uniformed) that ride,
sometimes armed, for one reason or another. So I don't
think people will suddenly become ruthless just because
they can carry on the train with a permit that they've
probably had forever. Good decision IMO. Whether you
agree with it or not, the point is that they weren't compliant
with the larger law, and now they are. It's up to the
individual to know the boundaries and keep it legal.
next time that idiot sneezes on me on the train I'll have something to defend myself with.
"I don't know that people feel like the government is capable of protecting them in all places at all times," Milde said.
Hit the nail on the head.
I'm also in awe that they'd get calls about carrying in DC/Washington. Anyone with a VA CHP would know that, and if they don't, they need to go back to class.
This is great for hopping an early morning ride to say fairfax or springfield for shopping.
Trying to conjure up a headline Mojomama? Stick to facts or risk a lawsuit.
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