USPSgun policySecond AmendmentTrump administrationfirearms regulation
USPS Weighs Rule Allowing Mailing of Handguns for First Time in Nearly 100 Years
Published: May 9, 2026
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The U.S. Postal Service has proposed a rule that would permit the mailing of unloaded and securely packaged handguns by private individuals, marking the first potential shift in policy since a 1927 ban. The 'Revised Mailing Standards for Firearms' would align handgun shipping rules with those for shotguns and rifles, allowing intrastate shipments between unlicensed individuals and limited interstate mailings to oneself through a third party.
This follows a Justice Department determination earlier this year that the 1927 prohibition on mailing concealable firearms violates the Second Amendment, particularly when sent between law-abiding citizens who are not federally licensed. The department argued that USPS cannot constitutionally refuse to transport firearms protected under federal law, even if the sender or recipient is not a licensed dealer.
The public comment period on the proposed rule ended May 4, according to USPS spokesperson David Walton, who confirmed that all submissions are under review before any final decision. Current regulations permit only licensed dealers to mail handguns, a restriction originally enacted to combat organized crime.
The proposal faces strong opposition from 24 Democratic state attorneys general, including Nevada's Aaron Ford and California's Rob Bonta, who called the change an 'irresponsible loophole' that could enable prohibited persons to bypass background checks and state-level firearm restrictions. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.