USPS mulls allowing handguns to be shipped through mail
Key takeaways
- Filed last month, the proposed rule would allow Americans to mail concealable guns, like pistols and revolvers, to anyone in the country.
- Concealable handguns have been banned from being mailed unless they come from licensed dealers since 1927.
- The National Rifle Association (NRA) praised the decision, claiming that the USPS handgun prohibition continues to create massive and needless headaches for law-abiding gun owners.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
Filed last month, the proposed rule would allow Americans to mail concealable guns, like pistols and revolvers, to anyone in the country. Protections similar to those for mailing long-barreled rifles and shotguns, which require them to be unloaded and securely packaged, would likely be applied.
The USPS reviewed public comments due on Monday before making any changes to its rules on handguns.
Concealable handguns have been banned from being mailed unless they come from licensed dealers since 1927. The Department of Justice called the law against mailing handguns unconstitutional as applied to constitutionally protected firearms, including handguns, because it serves an illegitimate purpose and is inconsistent with the Nation s tradition of firearm regulation.