Mail-a-handgun: Trump administration pushes to allow firearms to be delivered by USPS
Los Angeles Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The Trump administration is urging the USPS to permit mailing concealable handguns, following a DOJ ruling that declared a 99-year-old ban on the practice unconstitutional.
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a coalition of 22 mainly Democratic state attorneys general oppose the proposal, citing concerns that it undermines state gun laws and could facilitate illegal weapons trafficking.
- The proposed USPS policy would treat handguns like long-barreled firearms, requiring them to be shipped unloaded and securely packaged, with restrictions on in-state shipping and cross-state shipments needing to be opened by the recipient.
- Gun rights advocates praise the change as a victory for lawful gun owners, enabling easier shipping for repairs, sports, and relocation, while opponents warn it could allow prohibited individuals to bypass background checks and complicate law enforcement efforts.
- Critics argue the DOJ lacks authority to overturn the federal ban unilaterally and express concerns about enforcing complex firearm laws through postal workers, predicting increased firearm trafficking and theft risks.
