- Joined
- Mar 23, 2013
UPDATE: So apparently UPS and FEDex both require you to ship firearms from a "customer center", not a branch outlet. that's all well and good, but the nearest FEDex customer center is 20 miles away, and the nearest UPS customer center is 30. So I called The post office. The short version? "NO."
So I've decided that the USPS, FEDex, and UPS can all just suck each other off. I'll definitely be flying out to CA with them. I'll let you know how that goes.
I called the closest post office and spoke to the postmaster. He told me that it wasn't legal to mail any kind of firearm to yourself, and that it had to go to a FFL in the other state. I shared the exact code from the USPS Domestic Mailing Manual that states:
"12.2 Rifles and Shotguns:
Except under 12.1.1d and 12.1.2, unloaded rifles and shotguns are mailable. Mailers must comply with the rules and regulations under 27 CFR, Part 478, as well as state and local laws. The mailer may be required by the USPS to establish, by opening the parcel or by written certification, that the rifle or shotgun is unloaded and not ineligible for mailing under 12.1.1d. The following conditions also apply:
a.Subject to state, territory, or district regulations, rifles and shotguns may be mailed without restriction when sent within the same state of mailing. These items must bear a “Return Service Requested” endorsement, and must be sent by Express Mail (“signature required” must be used at delivery) or Registered Mail, or must include either insured mail service (for more than $200) requiring a signature at delivery.
b. A shotgun or rifle owned by a non-FFL may be mailed outside the owner’s state of residence by the owner to himself or herself, in care of another person in the state, where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. These mailpieces must:
1. Be addressed to the owner.
2. Include the “in the care of” endorsement immediately preceding the name of the applicable temporary custodian.
3. Be opened by the rifle or shotgun owner only.
4. Be mailed using services described in 12.2a.
he said he's never heard of that, and maintained that it's not legal.
THEN, I shared with him DMM 12.3, which states:
"12.3 Legal Opinions on Mailing Firearms
Postmasters are not authorized to give opinions on the legality of any shipment of firearms. Further advice and ATF contact information is available at http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/" (which, by the way says exactly what DMM 12.2 says.)
He just laughed and said he didn't care, and that If I wanted to call the Postal Inspectors office on him, then I could be his guest.
"12.2 Rifles and Shotguns:
Except under 12.1.1d and 12.1.2, unloaded rifles and shotguns are mailable. Mailers must comply with the rules and regulations under 27 CFR, Part 478, as well as state and local laws. The mailer may be required by the USPS to establish, by opening the parcel or by written certification, that the rifle or shotgun is unloaded and not ineligible for mailing under 12.1.1d. The following conditions also apply:
a.Subject to state, territory, or district regulations, rifles and shotguns may be mailed without restriction when sent within the same state of mailing. These items must bear a “Return Service Requested” endorsement, and must be sent by Express Mail (“signature required” must be used at delivery) or Registered Mail, or must include either insured mail service (for more than $200) requiring a signature at delivery.
b. A shotgun or rifle owned by a non-FFL may be mailed outside the owner’s state of residence by the owner to himself or herself, in care of another person in the state, where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. These mailpieces must:
1. Be addressed to the owner.
2. Include the “in the care of” endorsement immediately preceding the name of the applicable temporary custodian.
3. Be opened by the rifle or shotgun owner only.
4. Be mailed using services described in 12.2a.
he said he's never heard of that, and maintained that it's not legal.
THEN, I shared with him DMM 12.3, which states:
"12.3 Legal Opinions on Mailing Firearms
Postmasters are not authorized to give opinions on the legality of any shipment of firearms. Further advice and ATF contact information is available at http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/" (which, by the way says exactly what DMM 12.2 says.)
He just laughed and said he didn't care, and that If I wanted to call the Postal Inspectors office on him, then I could be his guest.
So I've decided that the USPS, FEDex, and UPS can all just suck each other off. I'll definitely be flying out to CA with them. I'll let you know how that goes.
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isn't big enough.
