handgun shipping

F

fallen4shell

Inactive
I was told a few days ago that it is the law (perhaps just in arkansas?) that a handgun MUST be shipped overnight. Is this true? If it is, and someone knows of one, it would be great if I could get a link to a documented reference of some sort for this law. Opinions and theories are welcome too, but if that is the case please state it as such.
 
I don't know if it is the law in your State. Some distributors do ship overnight, some in two days, and I have waited up to 10 days for at least two purchases.

Sorry I can't be of more help... :)
 
By law, no. However the USPS won't ship a handgun unless you are a FFL and the carriers that do ship handguns (FedEx and UPS) require that you ship via overnight delivery via their corporate policy.

How do they know you are shipping a handgun? The law requires that you declare that you are shipping a handgun, but that you do not mark the package as such.

So for those of us not FFL license holders, the law technically does not require it, but by default it does.

Clear as mud.
 
Ups

My brother works for UPS and is one of the few who handles handguns out side of Chicago. I sure he could know if it was a handgun if he was alerted to it. If not ID as a handgun may go through the regular UPS packages.
 
I didn't know you had to tell UPS a package is a handgun. With all the thefts of handguns, I would worry about a UPS employee stealing a handgun.
 
From the ATF web sight FAQ's

(B8) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U. S. Postal Service? [Back]
A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own state or to a licensee in any state. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. A nonlicensee may not transfer any firearm to a nonlicensed resident of another state. The Postal Service recommends that longguns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms.


(B9) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by carrier? [Back]
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by carrier to a resident of his or her own state or to a licensee in any state. A common or contract carrier must be
used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm. [18 U. S. C. 922( a)( 2)( A) and 922( e), 27 CFR 178.31]

Part of the reason UPS and FedEx use to justify requiring overnight shipment of handguns is that overnight packages are handled less then ground freight. They spend less time in the depots and are more controlled. Of course the higher fees means more $ and I'm sure that wasn't overlooked either.

FedEx and UPS have a long tradition of firearms theft.
 
So you have to go to day a FedEx office with the weapon and tell them that you need to ship this and it is a firearm? And then they will ship it for you, no problems?
 
I ship Fed-ex, no problems they just require an adult signture upon drop off. When you ship or recieve a handgun demand that it go overnite to insure less chance of it coming up missing. I have bought guns from Gunbroker paid the seller overnite fee,s and the ffl handling there end has gone to ups, shipped not telling what it is and it takes 5 to 7 days. Somebody told me that it is Ups policy of overnite on handguns because their employees were walking off with them.
 
Handgun shipping

For the general public you are correct. You have to ship overnight which is usally Fed Ex or UPS. I sold a handgun on another board from KY and shipped it to TX. Shipping was $38.00 (Yikes). I heard that too many guns were being stolen in transit.
 
I doubt they were walking off with them, perhaps UPS and FedEX enjoy the benefits of forcing someone to pay overnight shipping charges which can get quite expensive!

As said above you don't really have to tell them what's in there, they should have xray machines... unless you use lead lined boxes but then shipping would be outrageous! :eek: :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top