It is currently illegal to ship a handgun through the mail, but the United States Postal Service is reviewing a policy that could change that. Right now, handguns can only be shipped by licensed dealers.
We spoke with a gun shop owner in James City about the shipping process and the issues that can come with it.
Well, first, dealers have to ensure the firearm is unloaded and securely packaged. They also must provide specific documentation to the shipping carrier, but the gun shop owner we spoke with says even with precautions, problems can still happen.
Legally, dealers do not have to label packages identifying that firearms are inside, but when shipments go missing, Bennette says the responsibility often falls back on the seller.
It’s one of the concerns surrounding a proposed USPS policy introduced in April that would allow civilians to ship handguns through the mail. Currently, long guns can only be shipped within the state — and only to yourself.
They’ll be stolen like nobody’s business with the kind of people labor hires. The shippers will quickly realize that the USPS doesn’t pay insurance claims, despite what they say.