Citilink to let riders carry guns on its buses [Fort Wayne]

[salvorhardin]

Citilink to let riders carry guns on its buses

Benjamin Lanka | The Journal Gazette
FORT WAYNE – Starting next month, Citilink patrons will be allowed to ride with their guns, despite safety concerns from the transit company.

Citilink’s board of directors on Thursday is scheduled to vote on a new weapons policy to comply with state law, essentially allowing passengers to bring their guns on board.

Ken Housden, Citilink general manager, said the transit system’s current weapons policy does not comply with the new law. He said he isn’t thrilled with the changes, but his organization can’t ignore the new state statute.

“Guns and public transportation are not a good mix,” he said. “We can’t change the law.”

Senate Bill 292 generally pre-empts local ordinances that regulate firearms, including cities with specific gun bans and rules prohibiting weapons in public buildings and parks.

Housden said this means Citilink has no authority to ban firearms from its vehicles. The law, which takes effect July 1, does exempt the Statehouse, meaning people are not allowed to carry firearms where legislators work.
Full story: http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110607/LOCAL/306079957