Post Office

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bikerbill

New member
Last week, I had a bunch of errands to run in my small town, one of them being a stop at the Post Office for stamps before they jack the prices yet again ... now I know you can't carry in the PO, so I made it my first stop and locked my carry gun in my glove box. Then ... I decided to read the sign on the door and, low and behold, you can't have a gun in your car in the parking lot either! So there I was, a potential federal felon ... I'm sure everybody here knew the parking lot was included, but ... how do you handle this? Do you make a separate run every time you have to mail a package? Do you take the chance and leave the gun in your car, as I did? I hate the idea of being out and about unarmed ... also not crazy about the idea of somehow being discovered and having to deal with a criminal charge ....

And let me add, view the first answer ... my post office is a separate building, not in a strip mall, and there is no street parking nearby ... the parking lot or hiking half a mile or more are the only options ...
 
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I go to a post office where it's convenient to park on the public street, or (in the other direction) a post office "storefront" that's in a strip shopping center, so the parking lot isn't USPS property.
 
"Don't ask -- don't tell" is not acting legally. It's playing the legal version of Russian roulette. Granted, the OP asked what we do, so if that is what you do it's a legitimate response to his question. I hope you are not advocating that other people put themselves at risk of a Federal felony conviction.
 
The nearest supermarket sells stamps, mails letters and packages, postal supplies, etc., at the same price as the PO. No reason to go to the local post office and deal with the lines and the attitudes of the counter help.

Even seen convenience stores selling stamps at no markup.
 
Get a 'bunch' of stamps before they go up that way it is only a problem at a minimum.

Better find a strip mall location. That aint possible here so it may not be there either.
 
The nearest supermarket sells stamps, mails letters and packages, postal supplies, etc., at the same price as the PO. No reason to go to the local post office and deal with the lines and the attitudes of the counter help.
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Amen! I'll bet it's been five years since I last darkened a post office's door sill.
 
I decided to read the sign on the door and, low and behold, you can't have a gun in your car in the parking lot either!
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The inside of your car is the same as the inside of your house.
 
Fortunately, I moved to a remote post office. The Post Mistress is an avid Elk hunter and shooter. They don't blink when someone walks in with a pistol on their hip. I don't but when I walked in with an empty holster she asked me what I carried.

It turned out that she packs a pre popular Wilson 1911 and wanted to buy my orginal 1911.

Don't try this in the big city.
 
teeroux said:
The inside of your car is the same as the inside of your house.
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Certainly not true in every state and, generally, state law does not trump federal law, especially on federal property.
 
If its a public access parking lot the laws reguarding search and seizure for your state apply. No one can search the inside of your vehicle without PC, an arrest, a warrant, or your permission same as everywhere else.

Unless the post office starts putting up fences with signs and gates stating vehicles entering subject to search and seizure the 4th amend. still applies.
 
If its a public access parking lot the laws reguarding search and seizure for your state apply. No one can search the inside of your vehicle without PC, an arrest, a warrant, or your permission same as everywhere else.
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Do you really want to argue this point with a postal inspector in the parking lot?? I think not.
Its always been a no-no for firearms on PO property and remember after 9/11 the feds/LE were handed a blank card, Patriot Act.
Being a former employee of a contract bulk mail carrier the PO inspectors are folks you do not want to fool with especially in THEIR parking lot or building.
 
I don't have that problem, our little bitty post office doesn't have it's own parking lot, you have to park in the street which is City Property, or a private (connivance store) lot a half a block away.

Besides I buy my stamps at the grocery store. I hate going to town, why make two stops?
 
Does anyone know of a case where someone was actually arrested by the Feds for having a firearm in their car in a USPO parking lot THAT WAS NOT POSTED?
 
I work on an army base so I can't have a gun with me anyway (even though they issue me one every day) so I make a point to stop by the PO on my way home from work.
 
I use email instead of letters and fax machine for what email can't cover. If I need to ship a package i ship ups and drop it at a drop box. :p
 
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