USPS handgun mailing rule proposal faces opposition from Democratic attorneys general

A proposed change by the United States Postal Service could allow handguns to be posted for the first time in almost a century. Democratic attorneys general from about two dozen states have opposed the plan. They warned it could weaken state gun controls. The rule would affect pistols and revolvers, which are currently barred from most USPS mailing.

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The USPS said it is reviewing public feedback before deciding on final changes. Public comments on the proposal were due on Monday. The agency addressed the issue after the Department of Justice asked it to update its rules. The department argued the current limits conflict with the Second Amendment.

USPS handgun mailing rule change and the 1927 law

Congress restricted the mailing of concealable firearms in 1927. The law aimed to reduce crime by limiting who could post handguns. Only licensed dealers could send such guns through USPS. In January, the Department of Justice reviewed that law. It described the restriction as unconstitutional.

The department said Congress cannot run a parcel service while blocking protected firearms. It argued USPS must ship legal firearms for law-abiding citizens. This view applied even when senders were not licensed dealers. Last month, USPS proposed a rule to let anyone mail handguns. The proposal covered pistols and revolvers.

USPS handgun mailing rule change and shipping conditions

USPS already accepts some firearms, including rifles and shotguns. Those items must be unloaded and packed securely. The proposal said similar safeguards would apply to handguns. It also noted handguns have changed since 1927. The plan still treated concealable guns as a special category.

The proposed rules set different standards for in-state and cross-state shipments. Within one state, a person could sell and post a gun to another person. Across state lines, the rules were narrower. A person could only mail a gun to themselves. Another person could hold it, but could not open it.

That cross-state approach aimed to help travellers. It was meant for people seeking lawful recreation in another state. The Department of Justice cited target shooting, hunting and self-defence. It said varying state laws make legal transport difficult. In some cases, it said, mail was the only workable option.

USPS handgun mailing rule change and state attorneys general objections

On Monday, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford and other attorneys general sent USPS a letter. They urged USPS to withdraw the proposed rule. They said it could help people barred from gun possession obtain weapons. They cited people convicted of felonies or domestic violence. They also said it could hinder solving gun crimes.

The attorneys general said the executive branch cannot set aside a law passed by Congress. They also warned the rule would override state gun laws. They listed state requirements such as safety courses and background searches. They also cited mental health history checks. They said state entities oversee those checks.

The letter argued the proposal would bypass state systems. The attorneys general said compliance would be hard to confirm. They warned that handguns could be shipped across state lines to someone else. They said police would need a new tracking system. They added that building it would strain state budgets.

Nevada officials also linked the issue to the state’s experience with gun violence. The deadliest modern US mass shooting occurred in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017. A gunman fired from the Mandalay Bay casino hotel. The attack killed 60 people. Nevada later passed a law for background checks on most private sales.

Ford said the proposed mailing access would reverse steps taken by states like Nevada. Ford also noted a campaign for governor. Ford added that easier shipment could benefit offenders and abusers. "Our state has suffered enough, and to suggest we make it easier for criminals and abusers to access firearms is a slap in the face to gun violence survivors and law enforcement,\" Ford said in a statement.

USPS handgun mailing rule change and reactions from groups and shippers

Private carriers also apply limits on firearm shipping. UPS and FedEx restrict gun shipments to customers with federal firearms licenses. Those include importers, manufacturers, dealers and collectors. FedEx requires a licence holder to work with a FedEx account executive. The company says the shipper must obtain approval.

Gun rights and gun safety groups offered opposing views on the USPS plan. John Commerford of the National Rifle Association of America supported the proposal. \"Thanks to President Trump and his administration, USPS will finally allow these firearms to be shipped under the same commonsense safety conditions as rifles and shotguns,\" Commerford said in a Wednesday statement. Everytown for Gun Safety opposed it.

John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, criticised the plan in strong terms. Feinblatt said the rule change will turn USPS into a gun trafficking pipeline for illegal weapons while stripping law enforcement of the tools they need to prevent and investigate gun crime. The debate continued as USPS assessed comments and weighed whether to finalise the proposal.

With inputs from PTI