Post office requires FFL for long gun
Here's a new one on me. Tried to ship a shotgun priority mail today. Woman says open package to prove it is unloaded. I asked to see the rule. She showed me and it says "open the package, or provide certification that the gun is unloaded. I offered my police retirement ID with my CCW exemption on the back. No good. I offered to write a sworn statement. No good. She told me the ONLY acceptable certification is an FFL, period. SHe has been working in PO since 1991 and has required EVERY citizen who is not an FFL to open every gun that is shipped. I asked her if she thought local police checked backgrounds on FFL applicants more closely then they do people apply to carry a pistol concealed? NO answer. So I opened the thing and got peanuts everywhere and had a hard time getting it repackaged. I would really prefer to be able to provide "certification" rather then package the gun at the PO.....
Any body have any idea what the USPS actually means by certification? i wrote an email to USPS today, asking. Something in writing would be of great help as I intend to go back to review this procedure with these people.
Thanks,
dan
Any body have any idea what the USPS actually means by certification? i wrote an email to USPS today, asking. Something in writing would be of great help as I intend to go back to review this procedure with these people.
Thanks,
dan
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11.3 Rifles and Shotguns
Although unloaded rifles and shotguns not precluded by 11.1.1e and 11.1.2 are mailable, mailers must comply with the Gun Control Act of 1968, Public Law 90-618, 18 USC 921, et seq., and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, 27 CFR 178, as well as state and local laws. The mailer may be required by the USPS to establish, by opening the parcel or by written certification, that the gun is unloaded and not precluded by 11.1.1e.
Seems pretty straight forward to me, they can ask for your to open the box at their pleasure.0 -
why in the world did you have to say it was a gun? It is not one of the usual questions perishable fragile liquid or hazardous? I just preprint the postage and label from their web site and drop it off 0 -
First off, to make your experience more pleasurable at the post office, don't go in there with an attitude. They don't have to ship or send anything for any one(and UPS, and Fed-Ex are a lot tougher, and much more expensive). It is their rule they follow, and it is their house, so they make the rules.
Secondly, if you can post on here, you can just as well go their site, www.usps.com and get a set of their rules before you go to the post office. Knowing what you are up against, before you get there is 99% of the battle, in this case.
Lastly, I do appreciate that you are a retired LEO, and thank you for the job you have done, and the saccrifices you have made, to help keep us safe. I have many friends and relatives in the LE field, including a cousin, who is "the man"(county sherrif), here in the county in which I live. That is a career path that both, they, and you chose. It does not make you better than anyone else. Heck, there is a suburb of Rochester, NY, Greece township, who have had more crooked LEO's put in prison in the last year, including the cheif, than any other that I can think of. So don't use your authority of the past, present or future, for mundane purposes, as it will most likely lead to stepping on your twinkie, like the deal at the post office.
The nice lady was just doing her job. Next time, I would wait to seal the package, untill after it was checked, and not puff my chest out to much and ask to see their rules.
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Ok, So tsr1965 assumes I went in there with an attitude. Assumes I did not go onto the PO website, assumes I was "using my authority" (what authority does a retired anything have). But has no answer to the question I asked.
golferboy, I get what you are saying, but I don't stretch rules, I try to abide by them. Maybe I should get over that.....
Mark, you are right, but still no answer to my question.......
Gotta love these forums.......0 -
Find a different Post office, one without an anal PIA. 0 -
Thank you bpost, This is good advice......... 0 -
I thought the question was whether or not the clerk could have you open the box to prove that the gun was not loaded. The postal regulations clearly say that she could and in your case did.
If that was not the question than what was it?0 -
Mark, read the whole thing. I want to know what 'certification' is. It is clear and was clear she could make me open it. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by golferboy426
why in the world did you have to say it was a gun? It is not one of the usual questions perishable fragile liquid or hazardous? I just preprint the postage and label from their web site and drop it off
Because it is a FEDERAL offense not to.....
Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?
A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.
[18 U.S.C. 1715, 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5) and 922 (a)(2)(A)]
Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by common or contract carrier?
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.
[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a) (3), 922(a)(5) and 922(e), 27 CFR 478.31 and 478.30]
EDIT:
quote:Originally posted by dannej
nwcid, I am aware of the law and follow the law and would like to continue to follow the law. I would prefer to provide 'certification' that the gun is not loaded. I am trying to find out what is meant by 'certification'. I have emailed the USPS, ATF asking for definition. I hoped someone here already knew...
My post was not directed toward you which is why I quoted the statement I was talking about. We always have people posting up "how to commit a felony" as "good advice". I was just trying to clear that up.0 -
nwcid, I am aware of the law and follow the law and would like to continue to follow the law. I would prefer to provide 'certification' that the gun is not loaded. I am trying to find out what is meant by 'certification'. I have emailed the USPS, ATF asking for definition. I hoped someone here already knew... 0 -
Certification would be US Postal Form 1508 signed by the mailer (you). The use of at form is limited to dealers and manufacturers so if you do not hold an FFL in either of those categories then you cannot use Form 1508. Since you can't use the certification option form then the only other method allowable to you is to open the box. That is why she asked for an FFL. No FFL means you open up the package.
There is no need for PART II on this one as the postal regulations are quite clear.0
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