Opinion
On April 28, 2025, Representative Sheri Biggs (R-SC-03) introduced the Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act (H.R. 3033).
This legislation will remove the arbitrary prohibition on the mailing of handguns and ammunition via the United States Postal Service (USPS). For years, major common carriers have placed increasingly burdensome restrictions on shipping firearms, ammunition and common firearm accessories at the behest of anti-gun extremists. At the same time, the USPS prohibits the mailing of handguns and ammunition.
This double whammy of anti-gun sentiment has made it increasingly difficult for law-abiding gun owners to ship their firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories for lawful purposes. Whether it is to have a gun serviced by a manufacturer or gunsmith, buy and sell used gun parts online, or to avoid the difficulties of traveling cross-country with a firearm, many gun owners need the ability to ship firearms, ammunition, and parts, and they are often left with little to no ability to do so. This legislation would require USPS, a government run agency, to allow gun owners to ship all types of firearms, ammunition, and parts with confidence.
“Federal laws and regulations inexplicably prohibit the mailing of handguns and ammunition, even though it is completely legal to mail rifles, shotguns, and other firearm accessories,” said John Commerford, Executive Director of NRA-ILA. “Due to these restrictions, the only lawful method for sending these products is through a common carrier. Unfortunately, major common carriers have limited the ability to ship firearms and firearm parts beyond what is required by law, leaving individuals with few options. This important legislation will ensure that gun owners have the ability to legally mail their handguns and ammunition for lawful purposes.”
“South Carolinians and Americans across the country deserve leaders who will protect their constitutional rights — not bureaucrats who tie them up with red tape,” said Congresswoman Sheri Biggs. “[The Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act] restore[s] common sense, stand[s] up for the Second Amendment, and make[s] sure freedom isn’t lost to outdated laws and regulations.”
Congresswoman Sheri Biggs continued, “Freedom shouldn’t be…limited by a post office counter. [The Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act] defend[s] personal liberty, protect[s] small businesses, and make[s] it clear that in America — especially in South Carolina’s 3rd District — we still believe in the Constitution. I am proud to fight for gun owners, hunters, and defenders of freedom.”
Representative Biggs has been joined by 22 of her colleagues. NRA-ILA will continue to update you as this important legislation makes its way through the legislative process.
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About NRA-ILA:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess, and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
Lets take it a step further and drop the requirements to ship to an FFL. If mail in ballots are ok then it’s reasonable to mail guns to your home that you buy online.
They closed a local sporting goods store here permanantly because employees were stealing the guns from the shipper and putting them in their vehicles and not logging them into the store records .
Thirty years ago I expressed my concerns to Marion Hammer about not being able to ship ammunition or a handgun (unless it is going from FFL to FFL) through the mail. I said it was the Achilles’ heel of gun ownership that anti-gun politicians and businesses could take full advantage of if we didn’t change the Post Office rules (a rule which even ATF does not have). In the intervening years we have seen UPS and FedEx tighten their own rules for shipping handguns by forcing gun owners to use Next Day Air ($$$). Why? By their own admission it… Read more »
Funny, NRA can’t even keep track of the guns in the National Firearms Museum.
I wouldn’t trust USPS with anything. Mailed from Southern Cal, went to Portland, to Washington then back to Portland then to central Oregoneistan near Eugene. 7 day trip because of the bouncing around.
I often think that if I were given the opportunity to re-arrange how and where they ship things, I could save the USPS millions of dollars of waisted time and my taxes.
not sure I would trust post office , with all the rules for handling guns shipped by government ,an m16 went missing for 4 days until everyone at a postal sort facility and video were checked three people were arrested and the gun recovered