doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Can Agent of USPS refuse to ship guns?

Which brings up the question: Is a commercial carrier like FedUp, UPS, Airborne, DHL, etc., a legitimate party to take possession of a firearm? Obviously, the CFRs allow the US Post Office to take possession, but what about these commercial carriers?

While I understand and agree with the premise that a store operation can refuse to ship anything as agents/ representatives of a private company, I don't think they can do it as agents of the USPS. Of necessity, they wear two different hats--one for UPS/ FEDEX ETC and one for the USPS. I'm not sure but I would imagine their respective contracts are way different with the private companies vs the USPS. I'm going to guess that's why the sign stating they would not accept firearms for shipment came down. If they were to be a store front representing the USPS, they would have to abide by the pub'd Postal regs.

I had an experience a while back at the local P/O. I was shipping a C & R gun to a 01 FFL , I have a C & R license. I made the mistake of using the name of the shop on the address instead of the licensee’s name. The clerk at the counter asked me if the was a firearm in the package, of course I affirmed that it was one. He informed me that the post Office could not ship it, I pointed out to him that I was federally licensed and the receiver was also, he still would not accept the package. I informed him that I had shipped several firearms in the last few years and that I also received them from the P/O regularly without any problems and requested to speak to his supervisor. His supervisor tried to back him up, I asked to see the P/O regulation that they were basing this upon. After several minutes of scurrying around they came up with what they thought were the correct rules until I pointed out to them that the ruling they were using pertained to handguns. Then she asked if I could show them my license, I pointed out to her that there was nothing in the postal regulations that demanded this. Then they found a reg that stated I would have to affirm that the firearm was not loaded, which I did, then they accepted the package. Probably because the line behind me was getting out the door. Since then I have shipped without any problems, it just depends on the clerk and how his day has been. I did point out to the clerk that if the package had just the receivers name on it that he would have taken it without question; he agreed with me on that.

Jim

Last time I read the UPS rules, they specifically stated that UPS "stores" were not allowed to ship firearms. Firearms had to be brought in to the counter at an official UPS station.

Re-reading Gil's original question, I see he was asking about USPS, not UPS. My answer is not appropriate to the question.
Sorry 'bout that.

You're right but if you get to know the people in a satilite location they'll ship a firearm anyway because they want the $$$$$. Remember that money talks and bullsh1t walks and that certainly applies here.
Jim

One minor detail. You can ship to a NON FFL individual if YOU BOTH LIVE IN THE SAME STATE. Assuming that the state has no regulations against it.

One last caveat, I believe the insurance is only valid when signed by a UPS employee. I only use USPS now.-Dick

If you have ANY problems with UPS accepting long guns for their ground shipping or handguns for next day air please go to their website, find the address for customer service and complaints and write a short, factual and polite letter telling the corporation what the problem is. I did that about 5 years ago when our local UPS service counter gave me problems and within a few weeks their attitude changed completely.

I now ship Fedex Ground because its slightly cheaper, I can print my own labels and just drop the packages off without waiting and get an additional discount for doing that. It's a couple of miles closer to me than the UPS facility and no backtalk from the counter clerks either!

Unless you have recent model production guns you may have insurance problems. None of the companies will pay off adequately on antiques, or anything else hard to appraise. Collectibles Insurance Agency does cover shipping too, so see collectinsure.com

I had a similar experience as James-I recently!

A clerk told me that I couldn't ship a firearm (double of course) through the P/O. I told her I had done so a few months back and that the clerk that shipped it was "the lady standing at the adjacent counter space" and then mentioned, that I believe she's confused about what can and can't be shipped, i.e a handgun can't, but a shotgun is perfectly legal! She asked the clerk next to her, who affirmed that yes, a shotgun can be shipped.

She was very pleasant in continueing with the business of shipping the gun!

I only ship firearms with the PO now.