USPS handgun – Misryoum reports on a Trump-era push to allow handgun mailings through USPS after DOJ challenges a decades-old ban.
A proposed USPS policy to allow handgun shipments is reigniting a national fight over gun control, federal authority, and public safety.
Misryoum reports that the Trump administration is urging the U.S.. Postal Service to permit people to send concealable handguns through the mail after the Department of Justice said a 99-year-old ban on the practice is unconstitutional.. Under the framework outlined by USPS. handguns such as revolvers would be treated like other “mailable” firearms already subject to strict shipping requirements. including being sent unloaded and packaged securely.
This change matters because it would reshape how firearms move in everyday commerce channels, turning mail delivery into a new pathway that opponents fear could weaken existing state safeguards. Supporters, meanwhile, argue the Postal Service should be able to ship constitutionally protected items.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the plan a “dangerous loophole. ” warning that it could undercut state gun laws and make trafficking easier.. He said the proposal could also enable prohibited individuals to obtain weapons without background checks or regard for state rules. a concern shared by a broader coalition of attorneys general.
Bonta joined 22 other attorneys general in submitting comments opposing the USPS direction.. In their pushback. Misryoum reports. they argued the underlying federal restriction remains constitutional and that the DOJ cannot erase a long-standing statute through a unilateral legal opinion.. The dispute also touches on whether and how federally designated policies can be overridden when states have their own gun regulations.
For supporters of the shift. the practical benefits are straightforward: they say allowing mail shipment would make it easier to send firearms for repairs. for sports shooting trips. or when relocating.. But opponents counter that the added complexity of tracking compliance across federal. state. and local laws would be unrealistic. potentially placing postal workers and the public at greater risk.
USPS said it would review public feedback before finalizing any policy change.. Misryoum notes that Congress prohibited the public from mailing concealable firearms in 1927. while the DOJ’s January position sided with a court challenge raised by gun rights groups.. Under the proposed approach described by USPS. shipments would be limited within state lines for direct transfers. while out-of-state shipments would involve a more complicated handoff and handling arrangement.
An attorney general-led opposition also argued that even with those constraints, it would be difficult to ensure the rules are followed consistently. They warned that easier access could increase illegal trafficking and theft and complicate law enforcement efforts to trace firearms used in crimes.
Ultimately, the outcome of this debate will determine whether handgun mailability becomes a new norm or remains tightly restricted.. Either way. Misryoum’s reporting suggests the dispute will continue to test the boundaries between federal legal interpretations. state authority. and public safety priorities.