What's happened
The USPS is moving to allow concealable firearms to be mailed under updated standards that would treat handguns similarly to shotguns and rifles, a proposal DOJ says is constitutional but faces opposition from about two dozen state attorneys general.
What's behind the headline?
What this will change
- USPS could authorize shipping of pistols and revolvers under new, tightened safety rules.
- Interstate shipments face state-by-state constraints; intra-state shipments could be broader.
Who is driving this
- The Department of Justice has argued the 1927 law conflicts with the Second Amendment; USPS is moving to align regulations with that view.
What to watch
- States are coordinating opposition or support; outcomes will hinge on final regulatory language and comment responses.
Reader takeaway
- If finalized, this will alter how gun owners transport firearms for travel, hunting, or sport, and will complicate enforcement of state laws.
How we got here
Congress banned mailing concealable firearms unless from licensed dealers in 1927. DOJ has since argued the ban is unconstitutional and that the Second Amendment allows mailing rights for law-abiding citizens. USPS has invited public comment on proposed rules; reactions span gun-advocacy groups and state governments.
Our analysis
The New York Times, The Independent, AP News all report that the DOJ has characterized the 1927 act as unconstitutional and that the USPS is reviewing comments on a proposed rule to allow mailing concealable firearms; Nevada AG Aaron Ford has warned that this would undermine state gun-violence-prevention efforts. Direct quotes from The New York Times include: "The statute violates the Second Amendment insofar as it burdens the rights of law-abiding citizens to ship and receive arms in common use for lawful purposes"; The Independent notes that Ford calls the change a slap in the face to survivors and law enforcement; AP News summarizes the DOJ’s position that Second Amendment precludes USPS from refusing to ship to law-abiding citizens. Follow-up reading: New York Times article ID 5rdgtjjgeccayvrg, The Independent article ID kybiws6sgk9o1rze, AP News article ID b6rmqnkqnf3azon4.
Go deeper
- What is the timeline for USPS finalizing the rule?
- How would interstate vs. intra-state shipping be regulated in practice?
- What protections do states want to preserve when shipping firearms?
More on these topics
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United States Postal Service - Postal service company
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the United States, including its insular areas and associated states.
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Nevada - US State
Nevada is a state in the Western United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east.
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Aaron Ford - Wikimedia disambiguation page
Aaron Ford may refer to: Aaron Ford (Mississippi politician) (1903–1983), U.S. Representative from Mississippi Aaron Ford (Nevada politician) (born 1972), Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, former drummer with ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of..