Concealed carry in Post Offices

[RobertG1948]

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.

I have a close friend that recently worked for the post office. He worked with people delivering our mail that cannot read. WTF

 

[Sal1950]

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.

I moved here about 20 years back from the Peoples Republic of Chicago Illinois and have never been so proud of the people and politics of where I live till I got here. One of my current fav t-shirts,

 

[Law-dog]

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 one judge in one district. That does not apply to anyone but that one case, and post offices in that jurisdiction.

Your logic and the ruling under Bruen is correct, but that does not mean any other judge in any other district would decide the same way.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

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.

That is a local USPS Training Issue. My local Post Office is always bringing their “A” game.

Just like every Starbucks is not perfect. Same with Walmart and other businesses.

You must not be familiar with YouTube. Lots of videos were the private delivery services trashing people’s packages.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

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 …

Like you said it has been there forever. Why did you bring it up to the Clerk?

You moving forward with your Agenda or just being a curmudgeon?

 

[djohns6]

The Clerk behind the counter has no authority to make policy . They have no obligation to defend the policy to someone that disagrees with it . I don't know what the OP expected to accomplish .

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Small PO in my town here in Central Alabama -- no signage = CC to me.

I am guessing everyone working there is pro-2A.

One of my hunting buddies is a Postal Worker and is pro-2A and a reloader too.

 

[Yendor357]

Greaaaaat………..

You went into the Post office looking for a fight.
That lady behind the counter has enough to do, enough stupid/crazy people to deal with. For no real reason, you decide to pile on.

Like members of other “special interest groups” some people just can’t mind their own business and go about their day and be pleasant and polite. They have to shove their agenda in everyone else’s face.

What do you think that Post Mistress thinks of all gun owners now?

 

[Sal1950]

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 one judge in one district. That does not apply to anyone but that one case, and post offices in that jurisdiction.

Your logic and the ruling under Bruen is correct, but that does not mean any other judge in any other district would decide the same way.

I'm not aware of when and where that district ruling was made, I only know that the sign warning not to enter packing heat at my local Central FL post office did happily come down also about 2 years back.

Now if only I could remember to dis-arm when I go to my local bank. Thankfully the security sensors set between the two auto-locking doors has never picked up my Taurus TCP 380 ??? LOL. I'd hate to be arrested for attempted Bank Robbery.

 

[Tinyman]

Now if only I could remember to dis-arm when I go to my local bank. Thankfully the security sensors set between the two auto-locking doors has never picked up my Taurus TCP 380 ??? LOL. I'd hate to be arrested for attempted Bank Robbery.

You mean that's a rule? Dang, I'm in violation as well.

 

[CH4]

 

[Denverd0n]

Let me be clear in that it is illegal to carry into a Federal Post Office.

That said, be aware that there are a lot of "contract" post offices out there. They look a lot like a Post Office, but they are NOT a "federal facility." They are private property, staffed by private citizens, and it is NOT illegal to carry into one of them. I mention this because the "post office" that I go to almost exclusively is one of these.

Now if only I could remember to dis-arm when I go to my local bank.

Not sure if you were only joking, or if you really think it is illegal to carry into a bank. At least in the state of Florida, it is most certainly NOT a violation of any law to carry into a bank. By carrying there you may be violating bank policy. If they notice you are carrying (concealed means concealed), and ask you to leave, then you must do so immediately to avoid being charged with armed trespass. But it is no crime to carry your firearm into a bank.

 

[Sal1950]

Not sure if you were only joking, or if you really think it is illegal to carry into a bank. At least in the state of Florida, it is most certainly NOT a violation of any law to carry into a bank. By carrying there you may be violating bank policy. If they notice you are carrying (concealed means concealed), and ask you to leave, then you must do so immediately to avoid being charged with armed trespass. But it is no crime to carry your firearm into a bank.

No not joking in the least.
I'm not sure what the actual law is, but they all spent big money on weapon detectors and lock you between 2 entry door points, while the detector checks you out. So I imagine they're not too pleased with me walking in the lobby with my CC weapon in my pocket. LOL What the possible repercussions are I don't know. ?

 

[Islander]

Mine goes in center console before entering any federal building. As for post offices the folks that work there over the years seem to be the biggest threat.

 

[Denverd0n]

[Banks] all spent big money on weapon detectors and lock you between 2 entry door points, while the detector checks you out.

I guess I'm surprised. I'm not sure if I've ever been in a bank that had metal detectors. I can certainly say that none of the numerous banks I've been in, here in the Tampa Bay area, have metal detectors. Nor did any of the banks in the Orlando area when I lived there in the 1980s.

 

[Law-dog]

The Clerk behind the counter has no authority to make policy . They have no obligation to defend the policy to someone that disagrees with it . I don't know what the OP expected to accomplish .

Agreed. The OP raised an issue that he had no reason to raise, with a person who had no authority whatsoever to address it. Kind of like arguing with a dog, that belongs to someone else.


This lady has no authority whatsoever on policy issues. But since he came in arguing about the post office violating his constitutional rights, she should have made a short report. Simply stating what the complaint was, giving his name if she knows it, or at the minimum the tag number. That data is important and goes into what we sometimes call a zero file.

If there is some bombing or damage to the post office later, then we pull out the zero files and there is our prime list of suspects, along with disgruntled former employees and any others who have been angry with the post office in the past.

Normal people do not confront clerks in a business or government agency about such things. When things blow up, it is always from someone who expressed anger in the past.

And as stated before, the OP was just wrong on the facts also. One judge ruled that one employee who worked in a post office had his rights violated. At most that order applies to the area over which that district judge has jurisdiction, but not to anyone else on the planet. So, telling the clerk that their sign was unconstitutional was just false.

I am on other forums and I never disclose that I am an attorney. The reason is people on gun forums think they can to some net research and understand everything about everything. So, they end up with bogus information and want to argue about how much smarter they are that anyone else. Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but like Clint said, "a man has gotta know his limitations".

And it was exactly my limitations that prompted me to spend money I did not have, and go buy that model 29 Smith and Wesson...as a graduation present to myself for graduating law school, a very long time ago..still love that gun.

Now, that OP should have his name on file at that local post office and in a Postal Investigations file somewhere, because he raised an issue when nobody asked. And as many smart people on here had stated, do what you insist on doing, but do not show the gun or let the gun print where it will show up on cameras at the post office. That is simply not smart, since it is illegal do so so, as we sit here this very day.

There is a saying among judges and lawyers about old laws on the books, and it goes like this. Good laws stay on the books for decades because they are good laws and do not need to be changed. Never look at the years that a law has been in place and assume anything about it is not good and valid, if it were very bad or no longer appropriate, the majority of legislators would have already changed it. And that applies to every law, Even immigration for example. There is not very many reasons to say anything is wrong with the immigration laws as written need to be changed. The problem now is they have not been enforced, so massive problems have built up over time.

As to gun laws, there has been massive change over the years. Think about the policy of making a suppressor a regulated NFA item. What purpose does that serve the public today? Any gang members using suppressors to hide their crimes? Probably not.

Think about the laws on SBRs, what does that serve in protecting the public? You can have an AR pistol that is a 15 inches long but you cannot have an AR rifle with a 15.5 inch barrel. Any public safety issues there? I do not see them. That said, they are old laws that still have felonies attached, hopefully many of those will go away.

About carrying guns on post office property. Those are not that new, and they have a valid purpose, as long as they are on the books, not one you want to break and put your family and 401k at risk.

My free legal advice, maybe you get what you pay for, I dunno.

 

[scout789]

I am not going to risk my ability to own and carry a firearm by carrying in a PO. Nor do I have the disposable funds to defend a case of carrying one in a PO. I unholster my carry and put it in the glove box for a trip into the PO. He who defends all, defends nothing.

Good point. One does not wish to be a "test case" on such a question.

 

[Doug M.]

No. Just no.

I do not care if you carry or not, and I make my own decisions. What concerns me is drawing attention to yourself and others. Being off the radar/gray is our friend. Discussing that kind stuff with employees flags you. Want to sue them under the right circumstances? Go ahead. Other than that, never miss the opportunity to shut up. I had to learn this the hard way 35+ years ago.

 

[Smoke]

neighbor of mine decided she wanted to make a substantial withdrawal from her bank.

My wife was concerned about her taking a cab or a ride share to the bank so I volunteered.

I don't leave home unarmed, today wasn't any different but it's not something I felt the need to announce to (anyone really) the neighbor.

When we got to the bank I found out that I had to pass through a metal detector to enter the bank

It wasn't my bank, if it had been it wouldn't have been an issue I would have just gone through the drive-through but the neighbor specifically asked me to come into the lobby with her. I had to tell her I couldn't just as a bank employee came out to usher us into the bank.

The employee invited me inside and wasn't going to take "No." for an answer. I had to tell her I was armed and that it's a violation of Colorado law for me to carry a gun in an area I have to pass a metal detector to enter. She had a look of absolute terror on her face when I said it. I ended up waiting outside and praying someone didn't panic an MWAG me.

The neighbor is a little slow to pick things up so I'm not sure if she got it or not.

 

[Sal1950]

I guess I'm surprised. I'm not sure if I've ever been in a bank that had metal detectors. I can certainly say that none of the numerous banks I've been in, here in the Tampa Bay area, have metal detectors. Nor did any of the banks in the Orlando area when I lived there in the 1980s.

Really? The 53 bank just around the corner here does ???