The United States Postal Service could soon begin shipping handguns under a proposed rule change filed last month by the Trump administration. The move would lift a nearly century-old ban on mailing concealable firearms, allowing pistols and revolvers to be sent to any address in the country.
Under the plan, handguns would face safety requirements similar to those already in place for long guns: they must be unloaded and securely packaged. The USPS wrapped up a public comment period on Monday and is now weighing next steps.
Legal and Political Backdrop
The ban on mailing handguns has been in effect since 1927, with exceptions only for licensed dealers. The Department of Justice argued that the prohibition is “unconstitutional as applied to constitutionally protected firearms, including handguns, because it serves an illegitimate purpose and is inconsistent with the Nation’s tradition of firearm regulation.”
The National Rifle Association applauded the proposal. John Commerford, executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, said the rule would let USPS handle handguns “under the same commonsense safety conditions as rifles and shotguns.” The group has long argued that the existing ban creates unnecessary burdens for lawful gun owners.
State Attorneys General Push Back
Attorneys general from roughly two dozen states sent a letter Monday urging the USPS to withdraw the rule. They warned it would make it easier for felons and other prohibited individuals to obtain handguns. Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat, called the proposal “a slap in the face to gun violence survivors and law enforcement.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, also a Democrat, said in a statement that the rule “could open the door for prohibited individuals to obtain weapons without background checks or regard for state firearms laws.” He added that it “blatantly disregards public safety and would create a direct strain on state resources.”
The debate comes amid broader tensions over gun policy, including recent Supreme Court rulings on Second Amendment issues and ongoing concerns about firearm trafficking.
Gun Safety Groups Sound Alarm
Everytown for Gun Safety President John Feinblatt told the Associated Press that the proposed rule would turn the USPS into a “gun trafficking pipeline” for illegal weapons, “while stripping law enforcement of the tools they need to prevent and investigate gun crime.” The group argues that the change would bypass critical safeguards like background checks and state-level restrictions.
Supporters counter that the rule includes protections against misuse and aligns with existing regulations for rifles and shotguns. They point out that licensed dealers already mail handguns under certain conditions and that the expansion simply extends the same privilege to individuals.
The USPS has not yet set a timeline for a final decision. The rule is one of several recent administration moves on firearms policy, including executive actions on ghost guns and new ATF regulations.
If approved, the change would mark a significant shift in how handguns are shipped across the country, potentially affecting millions of gun owners and law enforcement agencies. The outcome could also influence state-level debates on firearm access and public safety funding.
