I had to go today and being law abiding as usual I left my 1911 in the truck while I went in to drop some packages in the drop box. While I was in there I saw a city council member open carry his 1911 in a serpa holster to get his po box mail. I know him..... he has no LE certs or affiliation, is this leagle? Even In VA? I know for facr city council members get no privilage on any level for firearms in my city.
I get no ccw in post office but what about open carry in the post office?
- Thread starter Eric F
- Start date
- Status
Aguila Blanca
Member
He was not legal. The prohibition against weapons in a post office says nothing about "concealed" carry ... or any kind of carry. It says "No weapons."
It's Federal law, so local or Virginia has no bearing. A post office is a Federal facility and the Federal law prevails.
It's Federal law, so local or Virginia has no bearing. A post office is a Federal facility and the Federal law prevails.
Rail Driver
Member
I'm not certain, but wouldn't it be at the discretion of the postal official in charge at that office?
NavyLCDR
member
Rail Driver said:
Nope. Illegal at the Federal regulations level governing ALL post offices. Local post masters do not get to pick and choose which Federal regulations apply or don't apply at their local post offices.
Eric F said:
If your truck was parked in the post office parking lot, you violated the law as well.
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/tex...v8&view=text&node=39:1.0.1.4.21.0.1.1&idno=39
If your truck was on postal property, you stored your gun there, violating the same regulation as the person open carrying the handgun was. Now, if the person's gun was issued to him by a government agency, and he was carrying the gun fulfilling his official duties for that government agency, then he would be legal.
Carrying a gun for self protection by Joe Citizen has never been upheld as an "official purpose", however.
Not all Post Offices are created equal. Please note that some are contract stations, and are not owned or operated by the Postal Service. The employees within are not federal employees, they work for the contract holder. As such, it is not a federal facility or a post office.
This is very common in rural areas up here, and I'd suspect in other areas as well.
This is very common in rural areas up here, and I'd suspect in other areas as well.
bikemutt
Member
I make a point of parking on the street or a private lot, not the USPS lot when I'm armed. And of course I leave my pistol in the truck.
I can't imagine how open carry will work out well at a post office, then again if someone pulled it off, it's a little like mountain climbing to the next peak, may as well try a TSA counter next
I can't imagine how open carry will work out well at a post office, then again if someone pulled it off, it's a little like mountain climbing to the next peak, may as well try a TSA counter next
dr1llpr3ss
Member
With regard to having a weapon stored in your vehicle while visiting the post office, doesn't that rule only apply if the PO is a standalone building with its own private parking lot?
In my town, a few PO's are located in strip malls with public parking. I can't imagine that I would be violating any laws by leaving my gun in the car.
NavyLCDR
member
dr1llpr3ss said:
Did you read section (a) Applicability also posted? The prohibition only applies to real property under the charge and control of the Postal Service. A strip mall parking lot is not under the charge and control of the Postal Service. Only the space the Postal Service is actually paying the lease on.
In a mall, the postal service would likely be paying for the entire office space, so everything past the entrace to the post office "stall" in the mall would be off limits. In a grocery store that has a post office, the postal service is likely to have control over the portion behind the counter where mail is handled, so the rest of the grocery store would not be prohibited.
A store such as Mail n More does not fall under the post office prohibition at all because the postal service is paying nothing for that store - the store contracts between their customers and the post office to be a third party that simply accepts mail delivered on behalf of the customer.
Fisherman_48768
Member
Does anyone else find it ironic that the "2nd Amendment "shall not be infringed" is disregared by the feds on every piece of property that "we the people have bought and paid for with our money and lives"?
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
Why do people still go to the Post Office?
Ironic isn't the word I use for it, but yeah it's pretty sad.
Ironic isn't the word I use for it, but yeah it's pretty sad.
MtnCreek
Member
I did not know that. Thanks.
Because my 105lb mail lady can't pick up a box of 2000ct,.45 cal 230gr bullets.
Birch Knoll
Member
Because that's where they keep my PO Box.
- Status
