Looking to be reassured!

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ahowardmd

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I just got back from the post office. Boy let me tell you, it was a tense 30 minutes of "discussing" (arguing) with the desk clerks, and then the Post Master herself, over the rules and regulations of shipping a firearm to myself, interstate. After discussing the matter with the Post Master, she finally agreed to take the packages, but said that if anything went wrong the Postal Inspectors were coming after me. Huh? Intimidating much?

I searched this forum before I headed off to the post office, and I've seen everybody saying that it's perfectly legal to ship a firearm to myself, but I was hoping you all would tell me again just to reassure me. I'm shipping a few rifles from Montgomery County, Maryland (I wish I didn't live in this county, believe me) to Orlando, Florida.

Please tell me that my packages are going to get to Florida! I hope these gun-hating liberals in Maryland aren't going to screw me :mad:
 
Thanks, I even just found the exact regulation - Domestic Mail Manual 601 12.2b , in case anybody else needs to quote the DMM to the postal workers.

These people really got me worked up!
 
I see a lot of people on forums these days asking for clarification from the OP when it's already been provided.
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Yes, I know he mentioned rifles, as well as "firearms". Since he used both terms, it seemed prudent to ask what he had actually mailed. It wouldn't have served him well to answer his question about mailing "firearms" by telling him that's just fine, since he or other readers might assume that also extended to handguns, which it does not.
 
If it was me, I'd send a copy of the information from the DMM. Many clerks know very little about the regulations when it comes to mailing firearms. Before I stopped telling them I was mailing a rifle or a shotgun, I had to show several clerks where in the DMM that it was okay to send them through the Postal Service.
 
So just for clarification, it is legal to mail myself a shotgun from Washington state to Arizona?

I believed it to be illegal, per info I came across a couple months back...
 
Yeah, never get in an argument, ask for the DMM and make them find the regulation, then throw said regulation in their face, and ask to speak to the postal inspector (or the regional manager)
 
I don't know that I would recommend this "throw said regulation in their face, and ask to speak to the postal inspector (or the regional manager)"

Seems to me being civil and showing them the error of their way would go farther in helping another gun owner the next time they tried to ship a firearm to themselves. An informed postal worker is a helpful postal worker.
 
I see the this question asked every once in a while and I'm not sure I understand the logistics of it. I presume a signature is required for delivery, at least I would hope so. Following the logic that I would have to be at the receiving location in order to sign for the rifle, wouldn't it be easier for me to take it with me as I traveled to the destination?

Now, I do see the legitimacy of the question if driving to Alaska from the lower 48. I would rather mail the firearm than drive through Canada with it, but for regular cross country trips, it doesn't make sense to me.
 
Now, I do see the legitimacy of the question if driving to Alaska from the lower 48. I would rather mail the firearm than drive through Canada with it, but for regular cross country trips, it doesn't make sense to me.
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Flying light has it's merits. The idea of not having to introduce a firearm at the check in counter, walk it all the way to the TSA counter, locate the "special handling" airline counter at the destination, and possibly deal with rapacious extra baggage fees, should not to be discounted.
 
Bobson said:
So just for clarification, it is legal to mail myself a shotgun from Washington state to Arizona?

I believed it to be illegal, per info I came across a couple months back...
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Yes, it's legal to ship a firearm to yourself, and since it's a long gun you can do it via the mail:

Q: May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity?

Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.
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http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html#shipping-firearms-additional

Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?

A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns 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. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.

[18 U.S.C. 1715, 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5) and 922 (a)(2)(A)]
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http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html#shipping-firearms-usps
 
I presume a signature is required for delivery, at least I would hope so. Following the logic that I would have to be at the receiving location in order to sign for the rifle
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No.You do not have to be there to receive the rifle/shotgun.

From the BATFE....



May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity?

Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.
 
Yeah, never get in an argument, ask for the DMM and make them find the regulation, then throw said regulation in their face, and ask to speak to the postal inspector (or the regional manager)
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Damn bro, you don't play.
 
bikemutt said:
locate the "special handling" airline counter at the destination
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Luggage containing a firearm drops out on the standard luggage carousal. It's against Federal regulations for luggage containing a firearm to be marked in any special way to indicate the presence of a firearm, and therefore treated differently than standard luggage.
 
NavyLCDR said:
Luggage containing a firearm drops out on the standard luggage carousal. It's against Federal regulations for luggage containing a firearm to be marked in any special way to indicate the presence of a firearm, and therefore treated differently than standard luggage.
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When I returned to Sea-Tac last year from a SD hunt, I waited and waited by the carousel. No gun case. After the carousel quit turning and the area was clear of passengers I thought great, they lost my shotgun. I was approached by a Delta rep asking if I needed help, I told him I was missing a bag. He asked if it was a gun case, to which I replied affirmatively. He said the bag was being held at the customer service desk which is where I had to retrieve it from.

This year it happened the way you said it should, on the carousel.

I just figured sometimes they'll pull 'em, sometimes not.
 
bikemutt said:
This year it happened the way you said it should, on the carousel.

I just figured sometimes they'll pull 'em, sometimes not.
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Luggage is not supposed to be marked or flagged as containing a firearm - so unloaded from the aircraft going to the carousal the luggage with the gun should be handled the same.

Now, if it is a gun case with non-TSA locks on it, not in another piece of luggage, it probably doesn't take a rocket scientist - nor even an above average luggage handler - to figure out what it is. So, if it was a gun case by itself, that is why they may have pulled it.
 
Now, if it is a gun case with non-TSA locks on it, not in another piece of luggage, it probably doesn't take a rocket scientist - nor even an above average luggage handler - to figure out what it is. So, if it was a gun case by itself, that is why they may have pulled it.
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Yup, I think you nailed it. The first time it was a aluminum gun case with a non-TSA lock, pretty much something only a hunter or Mafia hit man would travel with.

This year it was a rotomolded piece that doesn't look anything like a gun bag, looks much more like a golf club bag. http://www.nalpak.com/Tuffpak-1050-Gun-Case-w-TSA-Locking-System

Cool luggage as odd as it looks, fits my shotgun and all gear in one checked bag. Leaves more budget available to bring extra birds back home :)
 
Let me suggest a scenario. You're travelling from say Texas to Maine for a moose hunt, OK? Your airplane is delayed leaving DFW because of weather in Bangor, and en route, the Bangor airport is closed. You are diverted to JFK and delayed overnight. You are told to exit the aircraft and rebook your flight in the morning. Your gun is dropped on the luggage carousel and is making the circuit.

Question: Do you pick up your rifle and leave the airport and head to town to find a hotel for the night? New York, remember?
 
medalguy said:
Let me suggest a scenario. You're travelling from say Texas to Maine for a moose hunt, OK? Your airplane is delayed leaving DFW because of weather in Bangor, and en route, the Bangor airport is closed. You are diverted to JFK and delayed overnight. You are told to exit the aircraft and rebook your flight in the morning. Your gun is dropped on the luggage carousel and is making the circuit.

Question: Do you pick up your rifle and leave the airport and head to town to find a hotel for the night? New York, remember?
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A perfect horror movie plot. I don't know what rifles cost since I've never bought one, that shotgun of mine, well she can keep going around and around. I remember.
 
The above scenario probably ends best by informing the airline and the TSA that you cannot take possession of your luggage and it must remain in their custody until you return to continue your travels. At least this is what I have seen suggested in relation to the Revel case, which the above scenario seems to mirror.
 
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