Gun Owners of America (GOA), Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), and a Pennsylvania resident have filed a lawsuit challenging the USPS’s ban on mailing handguns. They argue the 1927 law violates the Second Amendment and unfairly discriminates against ordinary Americans.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (3-minute read) — Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), joined by Pennsylvania resident Bonita Shreve, are taking legal action against the United States Postal Service, challenging a long-standing federal prohibition on mailing handguns. The lawsuit, filed on July 15, 2025, argues that the 1927-era law restricting handgun shipments by private citizens is both unconstitutional and outdated.
The plaintiffs assert that the ban on mailing handguns is inconsistent with the historical traditions of firearm regulation as understood during the nation’s founding. While federal law has prohibited regular Americans from mailing handguns for nearly a century, businesses and government agencies are still permitted to do so—highlighting what plaintiffs claim is an arbitrary double standard.
Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of GOA, explained that the organization’s primary goal is to ensure Americans’ Second Amendment rights are upheld across all federal systems, including the postal service.
“This complaint demonstrates that the federal government’s Prohibition-era ban on mailing handguns violates the Second Amendment. GOA is proud to stand with its members and supporters to ensure that their constitutional rights are protected, and we are committed to ending all anti-gun ‘rules for me, but not for thee,’ in any form they may take.”
Sam Paredes, speaking for the board of GOF, emphasized that the law is a relic from another era.
“This law was passed in a different time. Our complaint makes clear that every day this ban remains in effect, it infringes on the rights of law-abiding Americans who are fully entitled to exercise all of their Second Amendment freedoms. In America, using the Postal Service to mail handguns to other law-abiding individuals should not be a felony.”
USPS Handgun Ban: A Question of Fairness and Firearm Freedom
Currently, the USPS enforces criminal penalties for private individuals attempting to mail a handgun, with violators risking fines and imprisonment. Yet, with private shipping services like UPS and FedEx becoming more costly and less accessible in certain areas, particularly rural communities, the inability to use the USPS places an undue burden on legal firearm owners.
The plaintiffs argue that modern technology, improved packaging, and tracking systems should make it easier—not harder—for law-abiding Americans to safely ship handguns, especially when properly licensed and in compliance with local laws. Many also point out the contradiction: the same federal government that permits the mailing of rifles and shotguns under certain conditions, or the shipment of handguns by dealers and law enforcement, forbids citizens from doing so.
If successful, this lawsuit could set a precedent, paving the way for expanded rights for gun owners across the country when it comes to shipping and receiving handguns for lawful purposes such as self-defense, inheritance, or sport shooting.
Safety Tip: Always ensure that firearms are shipped only through approved legal channels, properly packaged, and in full compliance with all federal and state laws. If you’re unsure, consult a licensed dealer or legal expert before attempting to ship a firearm.
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