Concealed carry in Post Offices

[REParker]

Speaking for myself, I tend to subscribe to the philosophy of not asking questions I may not really want to hear the answer to.

Regarding the USPS generally, I think they, and their "service," suck. We've had any number of letters and packages delivered to the wrong address, fail to be delivered when expected, and arrive in shabby condition when they were delivered. With the variety of private services or there, there is no reason for the USPS to exist any longer. Further, they're money losers...in the red year after year...yet they seem to feel it's necessary to advertise. They'd do us all a favor if they stopped the advertisements AND started charging these junk mail/spam mail senders a higher fee to offset some of their losses.

 

[Coyote56]

Slow news day today????

 

[Capt. F.]

Not only can't Joe Citizen carry a firearm into a Post Office, a local Johnny Law can't either, unless on official business.

It is like most federal facilities.

I don't carry at the PO, concealed or otherwise, and if left locked up in the car I park on the city street.

I always chuckle when people who are all about getting those criminals off the street don't feel the same about following the law when it inconveniences them.

This Federal gun offense would be no different than any other.

Didn’t say I didn’t follow the law and I don’t see leaving my gun in the truck while I’m in the PO inconveniences me in any way.
I simply told of the interaction between the employee and me and asked forum members their thoughts.
Sorry if my freedom of thought and speech offends you.

 

[326MOD10]

Didn’t say I didn’t follow the law and I don’t see leaving my gun in the truck while I’m in the PO inconveniences me in any way.
I simply told of the interaction between the employee and me and asked forum members their thoughts.
Sorry if my freedom of thought and speech offends you.

No sir I am all for your freedom of speech and I believe I answered your question with the detailed post about even rented Federal Buildings being off limits.

The comment about people who are all about law and order is in regards to the number of former or current LEO's who posted on here that they don't care basically and they carry wherever they want, to include the PO. If I am responding directly to your post, and only your post, I tend to put it at the top of the page, like this one, to indicate I am responding to that specific post.

There was more than one person who had posted prior to me answering, and several since, so I apologize for you taking it the wrong way.

Have a great day and take care.

 

[Capt29]

All smart asses, Note Bene: Do not screw around with federal no carry zones. Do what you do, but do not bring up the subject with USPS employees. It takes only one to make a report that could dog you for a really long time. To think that a local USPS employee even thinks about a regional federal court decision is just silly. However a Postal Inspector who gets bee in his bonnet is not silly, it can be life altering. I do not ever acknowledge I am carrying unless it is required by law, and I would not think about bringing up the subject with someone I did not know personally, much less try to tell them a law they have lived with since 1931 is unconstitutional. "loose lips...."

 

[lonestarlizard]

Recently while in our local Post Office I noticed the No Handguns placard that has been in Post Offices since forever.
I brought it to the Post Misteress’ attention that law was ruled Unconstitutional, I believe in 2022.
The lady became very unpleasant and told me to take it up with higher authorities. I suggested nicely, SHE take it up with them.
I don’t believe I’ll see a welcome mat at the Post Office out for me in the future.
Have I interpreted the ruling incorrectly or was it overruled by a higher court?

I have noticed that the front door sign indicating no guns is gone from our local post offices. The Florida district judge ruled, in 2024, that Bruen makes no carry in post offices unconstitutional.

 

[22hipower]

I thought that these rules apply only to mailing of handguns, and that anyone could mail a long gun.

You're correct. Only an FFL can mail a handgun, anyone can mail a long gun. I mailed a shotgun some time back and the USPS clerk asked for my FFL. Said I didn't have one and didn't need one to ship a long gun. He said that was wrong, that only FFLs could ship firearms. I asked him to make a phone call or two. He did, came back, processed the package, admitted he was wrong. It probably doesn't happen very often at most post offices.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I have noticed that the front door sign indicating no guns is gone from our local post offices. The Florida district judge ruled, in 2024, that Bruen makes no carry in post offices unconstitutional.

That is incorrect . . .

 

[RGNewell]

I doubt this method of splitting hairs would hold much weight.

Once the Federal Government leases that building it in essence becomes a federal building. At least in the parts they lease, if there are other areas inside of the building that are not leased by the Feds.

The law says where Federal Postal workers work.

 

[Gunny209]

Not only can't Joe Citizen carry a firearm into a Post Office, a local Johnny Law can't either, unless on official business.

It is like most federal facilities.

I don't carry at the PO, concealed or otherwise, and if left locked up in the car I park on the city street.

I always chuckle when people who are all about getting those criminals off the street don't feel the same about following the law when it inconveniences them.

This Federal gun offense would be no different than any other.

Maybe they just don’t agree with unconstitutional laws!!!

 

[RGNewell]

Back in the mid 1990's, My father-in-law was a tick inspector for the Federal Animal Health Department and patrolled part of the Rio Grande Valley on horseback. At first, they we allowed to carry personal firearms, and he carried a Walther P 38 that he took of a German Officer in WWII. Later, the inspectors were sent to an Army base in Georgia for firearms training and in issued Ruger .357 revolvers. This was before concealed carry in Texas and were only authorized to carry while on duty. One night an inspector went into the PO in Harlingen or Edinberg, I can't remember which, to get his mail and heard a woman screaming from the back. He ran to his vehicle and retrieved his gun, went into the back where a suspect was beating a postal agent with a steel pipe, He shot and killed the suspect. I don't believe any charges were filled but all of the inspectors had to turn in their guns, and after an investigation, the guns were returned,

 

[Benton Quest]

I believe many of you have misinterpreted the sign at the Post Office; I believe the one at mine bars the carrying of Beretta 92's. Now, nothing against that weapon system, but I don't carry one. So, I should be good.

Generally, if you are carrying concealed, the only hint you have a firearm should be a loud noise accompanied by muzzle flash.

 

[Doriangray6]

In Cheyenne the downtown post office and the US Marshall's office share the same building and though the Marshalls have a separate entrance they sometimes use the PO entrance and they are definitely all packing.
But in Wyoming people carrying firearms is a common thing so nobody freaks out and the law abiding among us, while we may choose to ignore policies against carrying firearms inside a business like a grocery store, do follow actual laws regarding firearms.
If I'm carrying and have to go someplace where having a firearm is illegal I lock my piece in one of the lock boxes I have in my truck.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I thought that these rules apply only to mailing of handguns, and that anyone could mail a long gun.

Long guns can only ship directly from FFL store front. Must have a special account with UPS, and must schedule p/u. USPS does not accept long guns.

 

[326MOD10]

The law says where Federal Postal workers work.

I am not sure if you are agreeing with me or saying other Federal employees aren't treated the same as Postal Workers?

If you go back to my post, which is post #38, it sites the law there where it says all Federal Buildings. I may be wrong but that was the way I viewed it.

 

[326MOD10]

Maybe they just don’t agree with unconstitutional laws!!!

I am not sure where you worked and it may be different than the oath I took but it never said I only had to enforce or abide by the laws I agreed with.

Now I had discretion in some matters when it came to enforcing but never did I have the opportunity to interpret the Constitution.

So if I view the part about the right to pursue happiness, and all kinds of illegal things made me happy, I don't believe that would fly just because i interpreted the Constitution that way.

It would still be illegal and thus make me no different than any other person I charged for doing illegal things.

 

[h2ohhh]

Notice the Word Federal buildings

Concealed Carry in Maine | Maine State Police

www.maine.gov

The law does not otherwise change where a person may carry or who may possess a firearm. It will still be illegal to possess a firearm in the following places, with some very limited exceptions:

• Courthouses (17-A M.R.S. § 1058)
• State Parks (12 M.R.S. § 1803(6), (7) and Bureau of Parks and Lands Rules Chapter 1)
• Acadia National Park (12 M.R.S. § 756)
• Schools (20-A M.R.S. § 6552)
• Federal buildings (18 U.S.C. § 930)
• State Capitol area (25 M.R.S. § 2904 & DPS Rule Chapter 41)
• Private property when prohibited by the property owner
• Establishments licensed for on-premises consumption of liquor, if the premises are posted. Note that even if there is no posted prohibition, it is illegal to carry on these premises while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. (17-A M.R.S. §1057)
• Wildlife Sanctuaries (as listed in 12 M.R.S. § 12707)
• Labor disputes and strikes (32 M.R.S. § 9412(5))
• Baxter State Park (as prohibited by Rules)
  Allagash Wilderness Waterway (as prohibited by rules)

One size doesn’t fit all. In NC both State and National Park users with a CC license may carry concealed. Unlike a surprising number of people here, I leave my weapon locked in the vehicle when going in any federal or state building including the Post Office. If you’re law abiding you shouldn’t choose which laws you will follow based on your opinion.

 

[Onomea]

Long guns can only ship directly from FFL store front. Must have a special account with UPS, and must schedule p/u. USPS does not accept long guns.

Is this a relatively new rule? I shipped a rifle from a USPO, declared it, etc., a couple of decades ago...

 

[bigggbbruce]

Is this a relatively new rule? I shipped a rifle from a USPO, declared it, etc., a couple of decades ago...

I have been working in a local GS, I used to carry packaged long guns into UPS and drop off. In 2022 they required a special account to ship guns.

 

[Rule3]

About 75% of US Post Offices are leased, so I call that which makes grass green and fragrant . . .

1) The term "Federal facility" means a building or part thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:18%20section:930%20editionrelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section930)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true