How You Can Fight Back Against the UPS Handgun "Tax"
Gun Owners of America E-Mail/FAX Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408 http://www.gunowners.org
(Friday, October 15, 1999) -- By now, you have no doubt heard that
UPS has stopped shipping handguns through its cheaper "ground
service." The decision has sent shock waves through a gun industry
that is already under fire from many cities that have launched
frivolous lawsuits in an attempt to put them out of business.
"We're trying to protect ourselves from employees stealing and
criminals stealing," said a spokesman from the company. However,
UPS is continuing to ship long guns, rifles and shotguns by ground.
For years, UPS has handled up to 75% of guns sent from manufacturers
to distributors and nearly all firearms shipped from distributors to
dealers, says the executive director of the Sporting Arms and
Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute.
The new decision by UPS certainly comes at a bad time, as the
Christmas season looms just around the corner. Removing the ground
service alternative for handguns will clearly raise the cost of
those firearms and could amount to a "tax" of something like $30 for
each handgun. While there were some early reports that a
competitor such as RPS might fill the vacuum left by UPS, that
option did not materialize. In fact, RPS instead announced they
will no longer ship handguns by ground. Adding insult to injury,
Airborne Express joined the mayhem by announcing it will no longer
ship any firearms-- period.
Speculation abounds as to the real motives behind the recent actions
taken by UPS, RPS and Airborne Express. Some contend there is a
clear anti-gun bias working here, and the intent is to increase the
cost of handguns to consumers. Others, especially those in the mail
industry, contend that they are subject to increased liability, and
must somehow reduce the number of workers who handle the firearms in
transit.
While it is certainly possible that some truth exists on both sides,
one thing is for sure: anti-gun politicians have launched a campaign
to demonize anyone who touches a firearm-- specifically, anyone
responsible for making guns or delivering them to the dealers who
sell them to the public. As of this week, 28 cities and counties
had unsheathed their litigious swords against the firearms industry.
Even if the manufacturers and dealers win in court, simply financing
their defense will greatly increase their cost of doing business.
And that's the point. It does not matter that these suits have been
almost universally unsuccessful. This month, judges in Cincinnati
and Baltimore became the most recent magistrates to throw out such
frivolous cases. Nevertheless, the other lawsuits continue,
financed by public tax dollars. And there's no guarantee that mail
carriers will remain exempted from future lawsuits.
Several states have passed legislation that in one form or another
will prevent or discourage cities from suing gun makers and sellers.
But the lawsuits continue anyway; and will eventually cripple the
gun industry if left unchecked. Thankfully, three Congressmen have
introduced bills to put a stop to this (see item #1 below).
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. Help save those who manufacture or deliver 2nd Amendment-type
products. It is imperative that you urge your Congressmen to act
now. Ask your Representative and Senators to cosponsor the bills
listed below, as they would stop these frivolous lawsuits that are
merely designed to punish law-abiding businesses. Call 202-225-3121
(see GOA website for fax and e-mail info) to support:
* S. 954 by Sen. Bob Smith (I-NH), a bill which currently has 1
cosponsor;
* H.R. 1577 by Rep. John Hostettler(R-IN), a bill which currently
has 20 cosponsors; and
* H.R. 1032 by Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA), a bill which currently has
89 cosponsors.
2. Contact UPS. The UPS decision is almost guaranteed to deliver
handgun buyers a new "tax." But as NRA Director Neal Knox put it on
Wednesday: "It's going to be mighty difficult to mount an effective
boycott if all the carriers are doing it." However, that doesn't
mean we can't vent our displeasure with their management. Please
look at the contact information below and direct your comments to
one or more of the outlets provided.
By the way, you can offer them a positive suggestion as well. UPS
has attributed its theft problem to the smaller size of the handgun
box that can be easily secreted under an employee's clothing. Since
UPS is still shipping long guns at the cheaper price, why not ask
them to simply change the requirement for the minimum box size
rather than commit highway robbery against gun owners shipping
handguns?
3. Consider alternatives. Writing for World Net Daily, Tanya
Metaksa gives an interesting alternative from Jason Young, account
representative of The Service Source. Young says that his company
has negotiated "aggressive shipping rates" and is willing to work
with handgun shippers. Young can be reached at 1-877-843-7687;
jyoung@theservicesource.com is his e-mail address. It is also worth
noting that dealers can ship handguns to fellow dealers through the
US Postal Service using the ground service rate.
Contact Information for UPS*
UPS Corporate Headquarters
United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
55 Glenlake Parkway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30328
Customer Service: 1-800-833-0056
E-mail: customer.service@ups.com
National Media Relations - Norman Black
Voice: 404-828-7593
Pager: 888-856-8816
E-mail: norman.black@ups.com
Reputation Management - Peggy Gardner
Voice: 404-828-6051
E-mail: pgardner@ups.com
Executive Communications - Steve Soltis
Voice: 404-828-4029
E-mail: ssoltis@ups.com
Public Affairs - Tad Segal
Voice: 202-675-3381
E-mail: tsegal@corpmail.ups.com
* Our thanks to Chris Stark of the Gun Owners Alliance for providing
this contact information for UPS.
**************
Cheaper Than Dirt donates a percentage of your total order to GOA if
you use http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/goa.htm to enter their online
store.
------------------
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
Gun Owners of America E-Mail/FAX Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408 http://www.gunowners.org
(Friday, October 15, 1999) -- By now, you have no doubt heard that
UPS has stopped shipping handguns through its cheaper "ground
service." The decision has sent shock waves through a gun industry
that is already under fire from many cities that have launched
frivolous lawsuits in an attempt to put them out of business.
"We're trying to protect ourselves from employees stealing and
criminals stealing," said a spokesman from the company. However,
UPS is continuing to ship long guns, rifles and shotguns by ground.
For years, UPS has handled up to 75% of guns sent from manufacturers
to distributors and nearly all firearms shipped from distributors to
dealers, says the executive director of the Sporting Arms and
Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute.
The new decision by UPS certainly comes at a bad time, as the
Christmas season looms just around the corner. Removing the ground
service alternative for handguns will clearly raise the cost of
those firearms and could amount to a "tax" of something like $30 for
each handgun. While there were some early reports that a
competitor such as RPS might fill the vacuum left by UPS, that
option did not materialize. In fact, RPS instead announced they
will no longer ship handguns by ground. Adding insult to injury,
Airborne Express joined the mayhem by announcing it will no longer
ship any firearms-- period.
Speculation abounds as to the real motives behind the recent actions
taken by UPS, RPS and Airborne Express. Some contend there is a
clear anti-gun bias working here, and the intent is to increase the
cost of handguns to consumers. Others, especially those in the mail
industry, contend that they are subject to increased liability, and
must somehow reduce the number of workers who handle the firearms in
transit.
While it is certainly possible that some truth exists on both sides,
one thing is for sure: anti-gun politicians have launched a campaign
to demonize anyone who touches a firearm-- specifically, anyone
responsible for making guns or delivering them to the dealers who
sell them to the public. As of this week, 28 cities and counties
had unsheathed their litigious swords against the firearms industry.
Even if the manufacturers and dealers win in court, simply financing
their defense will greatly increase their cost of doing business.
And that's the point. It does not matter that these suits have been
almost universally unsuccessful. This month, judges in Cincinnati
and Baltimore became the most recent magistrates to throw out such
frivolous cases. Nevertheless, the other lawsuits continue,
financed by public tax dollars. And there's no guarantee that mail
carriers will remain exempted from future lawsuits.
Several states have passed legislation that in one form or another
will prevent or discourage cities from suing gun makers and sellers.
But the lawsuits continue anyway; and will eventually cripple the
gun industry if left unchecked. Thankfully, three Congressmen have
introduced bills to put a stop to this (see item #1 below).
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. Help save those who manufacture or deliver 2nd Amendment-type
products. It is imperative that you urge your Congressmen to act
now. Ask your Representative and Senators to cosponsor the bills
listed below, as they would stop these frivolous lawsuits that are
merely designed to punish law-abiding businesses. Call 202-225-3121
(see GOA website for fax and e-mail info) to support:
* S. 954 by Sen. Bob Smith (I-NH), a bill which currently has 1
cosponsor;
* H.R. 1577 by Rep. John Hostettler(R-IN), a bill which currently
has 20 cosponsors; and
* H.R. 1032 by Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA), a bill which currently has
89 cosponsors.
2. Contact UPS. The UPS decision is almost guaranteed to deliver
handgun buyers a new "tax." But as NRA Director Neal Knox put it on
Wednesday: "It's going to be mighty difficult to mount an effective
boycott if all the carriers are doing it." However, that doesn't
mean we can't vent our displeasure with their management. Please
look at the contact information below and direct your comments to
one or more of the outlets provided.
By the way, you can offer them a positive suggestion as well. UPS
has attributed its theft problem to the smaller size of the handgun
box that can be easily secreted under an employee's clothing. Since
UPS is still shipping long guns at the cheaper price, why not ask
them to simply change the requirement for the minimum box size
rather than commit highway robbery against gun owners shipping
handguns?
3. Consider alternatives. Writing for World Net Daily, Tanya
Metaksa gives an interesting alternative from Jason Young, account
representative of The Service Source. Young says that his company
has negotiated "aggressive shipping rates" and is willing to work
with handgun shippers. Young can be reached at 1-877-843-7687;
jyoung@theservicesource.com is his e-mail address. It is also worth
noting that dealers can ship handguns to fellow dealers through the
US Postal Service using the ground service rate.
Contact Information for UPS*
UPS Corporate Headquarters
United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
55 Glenlake Parkway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30328
Customer Service: 1-800-833-0056
E-mail: customer.service@ups.com
National Media Relations - Norman Black
Voice: 404-828-7593
Pager: 888-856-8816
E-mail: norman.black@ups.com
Reputation Management - Peggy Gardner
Voice: 404-828-6051
E-mail: pgardner@ups.com
Executive Communications - Steve Soltis
Voice: 404-828-4029
E-mail: ssoltis@ups.com
Public Affairs - Tad Segal
Voice: 202-675-3381
E-mail: tsegal@corpmail.ups.com
* Our thanks to Chris Stark of the Gun Owners Alliance for providing
this contact information for UPS.
**************
Cheaper Than Dirt donates a percentage of your total order to GOA if
you use http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/goa.htm to enter their online
store.
------------------
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!