At the Post Office today...What's going on here?

F

Futo Inu

New member
I parked, became a DUPE (disarmed), and walked in to get stamps. But surprisingly, for some reason, the usual signs that have the circle/slash over a gun are gone. The signs used to say, below the circle/slash symbol, something like "a state license allowing you to carry a concealed firearm does NOT authorize you to bring weapons into this facility". I wonder why on earth these signs are down. Surely the feds did not modify their laws to allow CCW in the PO?
 
Maybe it finally dawned on someone that all they were doing by posting those signs was advertising the fact that they were essentially in an easy kill zone!
 
Why exactly do you feel you can't carry in a Post Office?

Eric
(Do you have criminal intent? Are you prohibited from carrying a firearm?)
 
Sad but true, most all states prohibit weapons into a state/federal building. But what the hell, just crank up yer chainsaw and stroll into the PO at 2AM for some stamps. Is that a considered weapon, or only if you threaten to use it? Or how bout a weed eater? You could claim you thought it was your leaf blower??!?!?!?!

If the politicians can spout off crazy stuff, so can I.

Fish
 
Fish, Just for the record, the lawyer that presented to my CC class said that (almost) anyone with a license can carry in a Virginia state office(not court) building, but I can't because I am a state employee and personnel regulations prohibit employees from carrying on state-owned or -rented property. John
 
That’s interesting to know. You guys are most definitely in the minority over there. Been to D.C. a few times but the were escorting a Federal Judge so we were armed. We went out to eat that evening, before catching a United flight back to LA, our DST. Sup.had asked us to surrender our issued weapons to the DOJ field armory in D.C. before we boarded the plane homebound but at dinner we had the pleasant experience of witnessing a mugging through our window table seat and a foot pursuit. We could have caught the guy had we known an emergency exit was just two tables from us. So we said screw the turn in order, we showed ID at the ticket counter and were escorted through the security checks and to the gate. Probably the safest flight to leave Washington National in a lonnnnggggg time…. –


Fish
 
I'm too tired to look it up, but I'd swear that carrying in a post office is against federal law.

Which, of course, is why you never hear about shootings in post offices ... ;)

Regards from AZ
 
In Oregon, there are "no gun" signs posted in post offices. We are allowed, with a CHL, to carry in/on state property, except courthouses. School zones are OK with CHL. Federal parks are also off limits for firearms.

Whatta buncha crap. If Gore gets in, we'll be regulated to death, and the second and tenth amendments will be completely neutered.

This is all to the best of my knowledge, so fellow Oregonians can correct me if I'm wrong.

------------------
NRA/GOA/SAF/USMC

Oregon residents please support the Oregon Firearms Federation, our only "No compromise" gun lobby. http://www.oregonfirearms.org
 
State laws vary.

However, via Federal Law, there is no prohibition. The signs that state no firearms are missing the most important section of the code. Section D, which allows legal carry if there is no criminal intent.

The main PO in Boston still had the signs up as of Sunday.

Eric
 
It is illegal for a "civilian" to carry a concealed weapon in the post office. The U.S. Postal Service promulgated the following regulations on "Conduct on Postal Property:"

39 C.F.R. 232.1(l)
"No persons while on postal property may carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, or store the same on postal property, except for official purposes."

I also check with one of our partners, a former federal prosecutor, and confirmed all other federal agencies/property have similar prohibitions. If you carry on U.S. Postal Service property, be careful.
 
Just to clarify, Texas law does not prevent a licensed person from carrying in Federal buildings. That comes under Federal law. Texas law does not allow a person to carry into any building where law is decided (such as courts), and this may be the confusion.

Also, Post Offices are not actually Federal anymore. The Post office is covered under a variety of Federal laws regarding mail, but the post office is actually a non-government, for-profit, company. UPS and FedEx have challenged the for-profit and government sanctioned monopology at various times with no success. Post Offices are not Federal buildings, but fall under Federal law.
 
Roadrunner:

The poster we are all familiar with is: http://new.usps.com/cpim/ftp/posters/pos158.pdf

However, please note the first line: Except as provided in subsection (d)

They then ignore to list subsection (d)
Here it is: http://uscode.house.gov/DOWNLOAD/18C44.DOC
---------------------------
(d) Subsection (a) shall not apply to -
(1) the lawful performance of official duties by an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof, who is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of law;
(2) the possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon by a Federal official or a member of the Armed Forces if such possession is authorized by law; or (3) the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes.
--------------------------
Subsection (d), part (3) should apply to legal CCW. "or other lawful purposes".


Attorney Robert P. Firriolo has gone over this many times on rec.guns.
As always, be careful, and if in doubt don't carry. If you carry properly, they will never know. State laws do vary.

Eric

[This message has been edited by Eric Blair (edited October 06, 2000).]
 
It would appear that (3) would allow hunting in a Federal Facility. There are quite a few Federal officials/employees that would, no doubt, be alarmed at that. :D

------------------
If you're not a little upset with the way the world is going, you're not paying attention.
 
If you read 18 USC Chapter 44 carefully, you will note the following passage:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>" . . . and it is not the purpose of this title to place any undue or unnecessary Federal restrictions or burdens on law-abiding citizens with respect to the acquisition, possession, or use of firearms appropriate to the purpose of hunting, trapshooting, target shooting, personal protection, or any other lawful activity, and that this title is not intended to discourage or eliminate the private ownership or use of firearms by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes, or provide for the imposition by Federal regulations of any procedures or requirements other than those reasonably necessary to implement and effectuate the provisions of this title."[/quote] (Emphasis added.)

So, the lawful activity/purpose referenced in subsection (d) is, in fact, defined in the same statute to include personal protection.

I don't know how much more iron-clad we can get than that. If I ever get busted for carrying in a post office, I think I'll be asking for a jury trial. The law is clear.

I'd be interested to know what Roadrunner's former-federal-prosecutor-friend has to say about the "lawful purposes" clause given than personal protection is listed specifically as a lawful activity.
 
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