Schumer Calls For 'No-Ride' List For Amtrak Trains

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) called on Sunday for a "no-ride" list for Amtrak trains, as a way of preventing potential terrorists from riding the rails.

"Circumstances demand we make adjustments by increasing funding to enhance rail safety and monitoring on commuter rail transit and screening who gets on Amtrak passenger trains, so that we can provide a greater level of security to the public," Schumer told reporters at a news conference

Material seized at Osama bin Laden's compound by U.S. forces last week apparently showed that Al Qaeda had considered trains as a potential target for a terrorist attack in the U.S.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/schumer_calls_for_no-ride_list_for_amtrak_trains.php?ref=fpb

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What. The . Fuck?

And then they move the goalposts
Subways, Buses, taxis and then what.

When does it stop?

...they certainly have an interest in expanding their base of potential customers.

isn't it prudent to have a "no ride" list?

Having one's freedoms restricted without due process. You are ok with that?

Are you just messing with me?

One that I would love to see explored by some really sharp legal eagles.

The theory is that it is constitutional because the ticket that allows you to board is a contract with a private company, the terms of which require submission to screening by a third party.

Now AMTRAK being quasi-governmental may be too far over the line, which might be why we haven't seen rail restrictions before. There are cops who ride the rails similar to air marshals.

Oh, and for the record I'm not OK with any of it.

-Hoot

Not sure what you mean. Are you FOR restricting rights without due process or not?

I kept asking why they did a planes and not trains after 911. It never made no sense to me,terrorists can board trains,buses, and any other vehicles to do their dirty work.

Bush would come out day after day talking his garbage about how he was protecting us and as I traveled around in my state,I could see many ways that a terrorist could attack if they really wanted to.

TSA patdowns.

Virtual strip searches.

No fly lists.

High gas prices.

And now no ride lists.

Add these to immigration laws like Arizona has.

"Your papers, please.'

At least with airplanes, the risk comes from a person aboard the plane (unless someone on the ground is using a heat seaking surface-to-air missile.)
With trains, you can plant a bomb anywhere along the track, or at a bridge and remotely detonate and walk away. It's unlikely to me that someone would pull something like this off from the train itself.

horrendously outdated rail system and put it instead into some ridiculous unfocused show security program that will only serve to drive away more riders--just as TSA has driven away the flying public.

What is wrong with these fools?

(Not cleanhippie personally.) But you start writing off the Constitution for some people, it's a short hop to writing it off for others. Gets easier every time, in fact. And it's one of those self-correcting things; anyone who objects to the intrusion or lack of due process immediately falls under suspicion. Comrade, if you have nothing to hide, why are you insisting on those quaint, archaic "rights"? Don't you realize that 9/11 changed everything, and we have to temporarily (always temporarily) abbreviate your rights in the name of the greater good. Surely you trust us . . . ?

There is no barrier at most stations, so anyone, ticketed or not, can walk on Board. Many smaller stations have no ticket facilities at all and customers can buy them on the train.

just recently he has proposed legislation banning gun ownership for those arrested, NOT CONVICTED, just arrested for the use or possession of a controlled substance within the past 5 years..

They'll never get caught as long as both parties continue to kiss their asses.

Then beginning of the great railway crackdown. Can't have anybody enjoying travel, or traveling without experiencing invasive procedures. Knew that was coming as soon as I heard that screed about bin Laden planning something for the rails. All just a bit too convenient.

What, do they plan on having long security lines and Xray machines and TSA crap at EVERY FUCKING TRAIN STATION IN AMERICA????? Are they batshit insane? Who do they propose will pay for this?

Methinks somebody named Shumer wants to put the last nail in the coffin of train travel.

roadways, so next we'll have a no-drive list. Then we'll have evidence they'll target shopping malls and such, and we'll have a no-shop list. Then they'll target residential streets and we'll have a no-leaving-the-house-list.

Seriously, all the terrorists have to do is come up with "plans" and leak them to knee-jerking politicians and the politicians will do the terrorists jobs for them.

..quelle surprise...NOT :eyes: