Mailing Handgun

[SkinnyGrey]

I am going on a trip to visit my girlfriend in Seattle in December. I am flying out of New York City so I understand flying with my handgun will be a big problem. Of course, I would like to have my handgun in Seattle with me. So, I was wondering if there are any good ways to mail the firearm. All advise is appreciated.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Box it up and take it to a UPS hub...the USPS will not accept handguns and neither will most UPS stores...send it to yourself, you'll have to send it Overnight, in care of your girlfriend

 

[stickhauler]

You can't "mail" it, you can ship it addressed to yourself to Seattle via UPS or FedEx. Make sure to tell whoever signs for it to leave it packaged up for you to open it yourself.

 

[SkinnyGrey]

this might be a very stupid question, but what is the difference between mailing and shipping?

 

[9mmepiphany]

You would mail something through the US Postal Service...through the US Mail...they don't accept handguns, from a non-FFL, or ammo.

You ship through a Common Carrier like UPS, FedEx and DHL.

UPS allows you to ship to yourself
FexEx requires the involvement of a FFL
DHL doesn't accept firearms

 

[SkinnyGrey]

are you sure i don't have to be a licensed firearms dealer to ship a handgun? this is what i have been reading.

do you think it is worth doing?

 

[stickhauler]

You have to be a FFL to mail one, anyone legally allowed to possess a firearm can ship one next day air on either UPS or Fed Ex to themselves at another address. Is it worth it? Well, is it worth $20.00 or so for you to have your handgun when you go out there?

 

[SkinnyGrey]

indeed, yes it is.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm sure.

You can legally ship a handgun, across state lines, to yourself, a FFL (if they'll receive it) or a manufacturer for work without being or using an FFL...unless you ship through FedEx...unless you have some local law that prevent you from doing so.

A manufacturer or gunsmith can return a gun directly to you after you've sent it to them for work.

Some people will use a FFL to send a handgun to another FFL across state lines...as in a sale/pruchase...because it is often less expensive, as they have different shipping limitations

 

[SkinnyGrey]

so I can't use Fedex? Did I get that right? Any suggestions as to which company I should am best served to use?

 

[stickhauler]

As was said earlier in the thread, pack it up, take it to a UPS hub and ship it to your girlfriend's address in Seattle next day air, addressed to you. Tell her to leave the package sealed for you to open it yourself. Problem solved.

 

[dogtown tom]

Shipping or mailing a handgun to yourself..........

USPS- only dealers, manufacturers and in certain circumstances LEO, may send or receive a handgun via the postal service.

UPS- Will allow a nonlicensee to ship a handgun to himself, UPS policies require that the handgun ship via Next Day service and must be shipped from a customer service center (often called a "hub")
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/guidelines/firearms.html?srch_pos=3&srch_phr=handgun

FedEx- Will NOT allow a nonlicensee to ship a handgun to himself.
http://fedex.com/us/terms/express-ground/index.html

 

[nalioth]

the USPS will not accept handguns

Sure they will.

When they find out the sender isn't a licensed dealer, the sender will be reunited with their package by federal officers, and then sent on for a vacation at Club Fed.

are you sure i don't have to be a licensed firearms dealer to ship a handgun? this is what i have been reading.

You've been reading a lot of bunkum.
Shipping a gun - who, how, where, when and why is a thread with links to the laws and shipper's policies to back up what it says.

Short version:
A citizen who DOES NOT hold a federal firearms license CAN NOT use the U.S. Mail to ship handguns, but CAN use the USPS to ship long guns to any legal recipient.
A citizen who DOES NOT hold a federal firearms license CAN ship any firearm via a common carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc) to any legal recipient.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Asked and answered. uPS is your only real practical choice.