Full Breakdown
USPS Proposal to Allow Handgun Mailings Sparks Nationwide Debate
5/8/2026, 5:49:32 AM
Proposed Rule to Mail Handguns
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has drafted a rule that would permit individuals to send concealable handguns—pistols and revolvers—through the mail for the first time since a 1927 congressional ban. The proposal, issued in February 2026, would treat handguns like long-barreled rifles and shotguns, requiring them to be unloaded and securely packaged. Mailings would be allowed only within the same state; cross-state shipments could be sent only “in care of” another person, with the recipient required to open the package themselves.
Legal Background and DOJ Opinion
Congress barred the USPS from mailing handguns unless the firearms originated from licensed dealers in 1927. In January 2026, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an Office of Legal Counsel opinion declaring that ban unconstitutional, asserting that the Second Amendment precludes the Postal Service from refusing to ship “constitutionally protected firearms” to law-abiding citizens, even when the senders are not licensed manufacturers or dealers.
Key Stakeholders
- Trump administration – supports the DOJ opinion and the USPS rule.
- USPS – responsible for rulemaking and public-comment review.
- National Rifle Association (NRA) – represented by John Commerford, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.
- State attorneys general – a coalition of 22 Democratic AGs, including California AG Rob Bonta and Nevada AG Aaron Ford, oppose the rule.
- Gun-safety organizations – Brady (Kris Brown, president) and Everytown for Gun Safety (John Feinblatt, president) have voiced criticism.
Data & Statistics
- 22 state attorneys general submitted a joint comment letter opposing the rule.
- The rule would apply to all pistols and revolvers mailed domestically, with the same unloading and packaging requirements as rifles and shotguns.
Potential Impact
Proponents argue the change would ease lawful transfers for repairs, recreation, and relocation. Opponents contend that the rule could enable felons and domestic abusers to obtain firearms without background checks, complicate tracing of handgun movements, and force law-enforcement agencies to develop new tracking systems, straining state budgets. The cross-state limitation is intended to accommodate travelers but may still allow indirect transfers that bypass state licensing requirements.
Official Statements & Responses
The DOJ maintains that the 1927 restriction serves an “illegitimate purpose” and conflicts with longstanding firearm-regulation traditions. USPS officials said they are reviewing all public comments before finalizing the rule. The NRA described the proposal as a “key victory for law-abiding gun owners.” The coalition of AGs argued the rule would “override state gun laws” and lack authority under the Constitution. Gun-safety groups warned that the policy would “increase firearm trafficking and theft.”
Criticism & Opposition
State AGs and safety advocates assert that the rule creates a “dangerous loophole” that could facilitate illegal gun access and impede investigations. They emphasize that existing federal firearms licenses (FFLs) currently verify compliance with state and federal law, a safeguard the proposed rule would bypass. Critics also highlight the absence of reliable mechanisms to ensure senders adhere to the intra-state limitation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Once again, the Trump Administration is recklessly disregarding the safety of the people it is sworn to serve,” — Rob Bonta, California Attorney General
- “Our state has suffered enough, and to suggest we make it easier for criminals and abusers to access firearms is a slap in the face to gun violence survivors and law enforcement,” — Aaron Ford, Nevada Attorney General
- “Thanks to President Trump and his administration, USPS will finally allow these firearms to be shipped under the same commonsense safety conditions as rifles and shotguns,” — John Commerford, NRA Institute for Legislative Action
- “It is categorically unfair and outright dangerous to expect postal workers to navigate complex federal, state, and local firearm laws,” — Kris Brown, President of Brady
- “while stripping law enforcement of the tools they need to prevent and investigate gun crime.” — John Feinblatt, Everytown for Gun Safety
What’s Next
USPS will conclude its public-comment period by the end of May 2026 and then decide whether to adopt the proposed rule. If finalized, the regulation could take effect later in the year, prompting further legal challenges from state officials and advocacy groups.
