Postal Service to Let Handguns Travel by Mail

The U. S. Postal Service is planning a big change that could let people ship handguns in the mail, following new legal advice from the Department of Justice. The proposed rule will appear in the Federal Register on Thursday and aims to update mailing rules so they match the Justice Department’s guidance. A recent opinion from the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel says that a federal law banning the mailing of concealable firearms, like handguns, is unconstitutional when applied to weapons protected by the Second Amendment. Because of this, the Postal Service wants to allow lawful handguns to be shipped under the same conditions as rifles and shotguns. Under current rules, most handguns cannot be mailed unless there are very specific exceptions. The new rules would keep strict requirements: the gun must be unloaded, properly packaged, and meet other safety standards. The Postal Service says it is following the Justice Department’s interpretation and has worked with federal attorneys to draft these updates. The changes would modify Publication 52, the regulation that covers hazardous and restricted mail. Even with the expansion, certain weapons will still be off limits. Machine guns and some modified firearms remain prohibited. Mailers must also obey all federal, state, and local laws, such as the Gun Control Act, and may need to certify that the gun is unloaded.There are still rules about how a package can look. Packages cannot have markings that reveal their contents, and most shipments must include tracking and require a signature when delivered. Dealers who hold federal licenses can ship firearms with fewer restrictions, while non‑licensed sellers face more conditions for interstate shipping. Law enforcement and government agencies keep special exceptions. Military officers, federal agents, and other authorized personnel can mail restricted handguns if they file the required affidavits that show official use. The Postal Service will accept public comments on this proposal for 30 days after it is published. Officials say that feedback should focus on how clear and useful the new rules are, rather than debating the constitutional issues already addressed by the Justice Department. If the changes pass, they could reshape how firearms move across the country, aligning postal rules with a broader view of Second Amendment rights while still keeping safety and oversight in place.