Section 1715. Firearms as nonmailable; regulations
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Pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person are nonmailable and shall not be
deposited in or carried by the mails or delivered by any officer or employee of the Postal Service. Such articles may be
conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postal Service shall prescribe, for use in connection with their
official duty, to officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Organized Reserve Corps; to
officers of the National Guard or Militia of a State, Territory, or District; to officers of the United States or of a State,
Territory, or District whose official duty is to serve warrants of arrest or commitments; to employees of the Postal
Service; to officers and employees of enforcement agencies of the United States; and to watchmen engaged in
guarding the property of the United States, a State, Territory, or District. Such articles also may be conveyed in the
mails to manufacturers of firearms or bona fide dealers therein in customary trade shipments, including such articles for
repairs or replacement of parts, from one to the other, under such regulations as the Postal Service shall prescribe.
Whoever knowingly deposits for mailing or delivery, or knowingly causes to be delivered by mail according to the
direction thereon, or at any place to which it is directed to be delivered by the person to whom it is addressed, any
pistol, revolver, or firearm declared nonmailable by this section, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not
more than two years, or both.
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http://new.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/1999/pb22014.pdf
Postal Bulletin Issue 22014 - December 30, 1999
F. Firearms of any type are prohibited in all classes of mail. See definitions
of firearms in DMM C024.1.1C. This restriction does not apply to firearms mailed
to or by official U.S. government agencies.
F1. Privately owned weapons addressed to an individual are prohibited in
any class of mail.
F2. Importation of firearms is restricted to one shotgun and one single shot
.22 caliber rifle per individual.
mail.
if that wasn't clear as mud:
Pub. 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail
http://new.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub52.pdf
1.6 megs!
b. Restricted matter (DMM C024) includes:
(1) Abortive and contraceptive devices.
(2) Battery-powered devices.
(3) Building construction materials.
(4) Controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.
(5) Firearms.
(6) Intoxicating liquors.
(7) Liquids and powders.
(8) Matter emitting obnoxious odors.
(9) Motor vehicle master keys.
(10) Nonhazardous liquids and powders.
(11) Sharp objects (knives, switchblades, stilettos).
(12) Odd-shaped items in letter-size envelopes.
c. Perishable matter (DMM C022) includes:
(1) Dead animals or parts of animals.
(2) Eggs.
(3) Live animals.
(4) Meat and meat products.
(5) Plants and plant products.
432.1 General
The following conditions apply:
a. Pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on
the person (referred to as handguns) are nonmailable in the domestic
mail except as permitted in Exhibit 432.1 and DMM C024.1.0.
b. The disassembled parts of a handgun or other type of nonmailable
firearm that can be readily reassembled as a weapon are nonmailable
except as permitted in Exhibit 432.1 and DMM C024.1.0 or C024.2.0.
c. Unloaded antique firearms sent as curios or museum pieces are
generally permitted as specified in Exhibit 432.1 and DMM C024.2.0.
d. Unloaded rifles and shotguns may be mailed if the mailer fully complies
with the Gun Control Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-618) and 18 U.S.C.
921. The mailer may be required to establish, by opening the parcel or
by written certification, that the gun is unloaded and not excluded from
mailing because of the restrictions in 431.2b and c.
432.2 PS Form 1508
PS Form 1508, Statement by Shipper of Firearms, must be completed by
each firearm manufacturer or dealer who deposits firearms for mailing. The
form must be filed with the postmaster of the post office of mailing.
Handguns may be mailed by a licensed manufacturer or dealer, an authorized federal agent, or an authorized state,
territory, or district agent ONLY when addressed to one of the following addressee categories for use in official
duties:
Addressee Affidavit Requirements
a. Officer of Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine
Corps, or organized reserve corps.
b. Officer of National Guard or militia of a state, district, or
territory.
Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and
certificate signed by commanding officer.
c. Officer of the federal government or a state, district, or
territory whose official duty is to serve warrants of
arrest or commitment.
d. USPS employees specifically authorized by the chief
postal inspector.
e. Officer or employee of a U.S. enforcement agency.
Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and
certificate signed by head of agency employing the
addressee.
f. Watchman engaged in guarding federal, state, district,
or territory property.
Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and
certificate signed by chief clerk of department, bureau,
or branch of government agency employing the
addressee.
g. Purchasing agent or other designated member of an
agency employing officers and personnel included in
c, d, or e above.
Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and
certificate signed by the head of agency stating the
firearm is to be used by an officer or employee cited in
c, d, or e of the opposite column.
Unloaded Handgun
Mailer must be licensed manufacturer or dealer mailing to another licensed
manufacturer or dealer.
Addressee is FBI (or its Director) or scientific lab or crime detection bureau of any
agency whose members are federal law enforcement officers, or state, district, or
territory officers authoirzed to serve warrants of arrest or commitment.
Manufacturers or dealers must complete PS Form 1508, Statement by Shipper of
Firearms, and file with the postmaster.
Postmasters may forward an unsatisfactory mailer statement to their RCSC for a ruling.
Unloaded Rifle or Shotgun
Short-barrelled rifles or shotguns that can be concealed on the person are
nonmailable.
Mailer must comply with Gun Control Act of 1968 and with state and local laws.
USPS may require mailer to open parcel or give written certification that
weapon is unloaded and not concealable.
Registered mail service is recommended
Unloaded Antique Firearm
Unloaded antique firearms sent as curios or museum pieces are acceptable
for mailing.
222 Matter Excepted From Markings
If permitted to be mailed under DMM C024, the following materials are
excepted from the requirements in 221 and must be mailed with no indication
or identifying marking on the outside of the parcel:
a. Controlled substances and drugs.
b. Firearms.
c. Motor vehicle master keys.
d. Switchblade knives.
432.3 Packaging and Marking
No markings of any kind that indicate the nature of the contents may be
placed on the outside wrapper or container of any mailpiece containing
firearms. Mailable matter must be properly and securely packaged within the
general packaging requirements in DMM C010.
433 Mailer Responsibility
Even though certain types of firearms are permitted to be mailed within the
provisions of the postal law in 18 U.S.C. 1715, it is the mailer’s responsibility
to comply with all federal and state regulations and local ordinances affecting
the movement of firearms.
434 Legal Opinions on Mailing Firearms
Postmasters are not authorized to give opinions on the legality of any
shipment of rifles or shotguns. Mailers should be referred to the nearest
regional ATF office for further advice.
