Train Gunman Charged, Security Concerns Rise

0:00It's April 29th. This is Canada News Today, AI-powered stories from your city. I'm Cory with the story. Federal authorities just charged a guy with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondent's Association dinner on Saturday. He wrote an Amtrak train all the way from California to Washington, D.C. packing a shotgun and a semi-automatic pistol in his bags. Amtrak lets passengers transport firearms if they're declared, unloaded, locked in a hard case, and checked like on airplanes. But unlike airports with TSA scans, train stations have zero passenger screening, whether it's a quiet stop in New Mexico or busy union station. Real workers in unions are sounding the alarm, saying assaulting guns on trains or top worries, especially after rowdy crowds post January 6th, and tough mask enforcement during COVID. They've pushed for laws to protect crews, like treating train interference as serious as messing with flight staff. Most incidents highlight the risks, from a 2022 fatal shooting on a Missouri train that

1:02led to a $158 million dollar lawsuit against Amtrak to drug smuggle due to lacks checks. Union's note recent training helps spot the suspect, but coverage was low. Experts agree full airport-style security won't work across 500 varied stations, from big city hubs, to rural outposts, but they're calling. For more Amtrak police patrols on board, and smarter fixes to keep brides safe without killing the vibe.