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Shipping Firearms Via US Mail?

gunpaqgunpaq Member Posts: 4,607 ✭✭
edited May 2007 in Ask the Experts
Here is a regularly asked question for the experts.

How do I legally ship modern long guns and C&R long guns via US mail?

The local postmaster informed me that only a licensed firearms dealer
cleared and certified by the US Postal service was the only one that can legally send firearms (long guns) through the mail. He gave me specific instructions to go to XYZ Gun Shop pay his service fee and have the gun shop bring my guns to the post office for shipping.

Am I getting my chain yanked or has the regulations changed in the past year and half since I last shipped firearms?

Comments

  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Like many postal employees, he gave you incorrect information. Your response should have been, "Can you show me where it says that in the Domestic Mail Manual?"

    It's all spelled out in USPS Pub 52, as well as ATF P5300.4. A nonlicensee can ship a long gun via USPS, as long as the transfer is legal. You do not need to declare the contents of your package. You do not need to fill out any form. You just need to answer "no" to the "4 Questions": "Is it fragile, is it liquid, etc."

    Of course, it must be unloaded; do not include ammo.

    I usually ship Priority Mail, insured for the full value.

    Neal
  • gunpaqgunpaq Member Posts: 4,607 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks nmyers.

    I did not think the regs had changed.

    The postmaster must get a kickback from his gun shop buddy.

    I inquired out of curiosity with the gun shop owner about shipping via USPS. He had the same story and claimed he was the only one in the county certified by the government to ship firearms. He said he would gladly ship my firearms for $50.00 each. Quite a racket.
  • Henry0ReillyHenry0Reilly Member Posts: 10,892 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gunpaq
    ...only one in the county certified by the government to ship firearms.


    My post office lets me ship firearms other than handguns. I did so as reacently as last month.
    I used to recruit for the NRA until they sold us down the river (again!) in Heller v. DC. See my auctions (if any) under username henryreilly
  • gskyhawkgskyhawk Member Posts: 4,773
    edited November -1
    claimed he was the only one in the county certified by the government to ship firearms.

    maybe you should tell him that you plan on calling the ATF and checking out this certification of his , see what he has to say about it then :)
  • HerschelHerschel Member Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well, the postmaster may be stupid and then again he may have an agreement that he gets a kickback from the so-called "only certified shipper". I suggest you discuss this with the postal inspectors.
  • chumchumchumchum Member Posts: 847 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would suggest not shipping with the post office at all. They damaged a scope of mine in shipping back in Oct. I filed a calim didn't hear from them till March. They refused to pay. I filed an appeal. Came back last week, refused again. However I can file another appeal. Seems like a horse and pony show and they refuse to honor the insurance claim. UPS or Fedex would be cheaper and the customer service can't be any worse!!!!
  • ATFATF Member Posts: 11,683 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by chumchum
    I would suggest not shipping with the post office at all. They damaged a scope of mine in shipping back in Oct. I filed a calim didn't hear from them till March. They refused to pay. I filed an appeal. Came back last week, refused again. However I can file another appeal. Seems like a horse and pony show and they refuse to honor the insurance claim. UPS or Fedex would be cheaper and the customer service can't be any worse!!!!


    I ship through them (Handguns & Long guns) at least once a week for years,never had a problem? [8D]
  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not uncommon to find a postal employee that does not know their own regs. Link to Domestic Mail manual below. Attention is invited to section 432.2 that covers mailing firearms, and 434- that says Postal employees may NOT give opinion on mailability of firearms. http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub52.pdf
  • oldgunneroldgunner Member Posts: 2,466 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    11b6r is on the nose. I had to look that up, print it, and take it to the postmaster in person before my PO would accept one. I fixed up a packet containing their own regs, along with some material from the ATF site, and a copy of the Gun Control Act of 1968, and a personal letter from me stating the gun was unloaded and completely safe. There was no way in he** they could possibly refuse.

    I have all the info bookmarked if you need it. The man at the gun shop is a brazen damn thief and is lying out his *.
  • MN HunterMN Hunter Member Posts: 2,299 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by oldgunner
    11b6r is on the nose. I had to look that up, print it, and take it to the postmaster in person before my PO would accept one. I fixed up a packet containing their own regs, along with some material from the ATF site, and a copy of the Gun Control Act of 1968, and a personal letter from me stating the gun was unloaded and completely safe. There was no way in he** they could possibly refuse.

    I have all the info bookmarked if you need it. The man at the gun shop is a brazen damn thief and is lying out his *.


    i did the EXACT same thing. my first try, i too heard i could no ship a long gun unless "certified" i posted here, nmyers, pointed me in the right direction, now everytime i walk in there...i give the clerks a s@it eating grin [:D][:D]

    ohh on a side note...1 time i had to open the package and declare it was unloaded..but they taped it back up better than i had! [:0][:D]
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