Shipping firearms to oneself

[cpuckett812]

Ive read til my eyes are bleeding on this subject, including threads on here and on the atf site. Maybe its ADD but I havent found a definitive answer on a couple points of this transaction. Heres my situation, Im moving from WA to NC. I have 1 shotgun, 2 rifles, 2 handguns. From what Ive read, I can ship them to myself to my new address, which I hope is correct. My questions are as follows: (1) Can I ship them together or combine a certain number of them? (2) Must I notify USPS/UPS what Im shipping, (3) Must I ship all or part of these overnight? Thanks for the help guys, I really tried to figure it out on my own, but Im more confused now then when I started :banghead:

 

[dogtown tom]

cpuckett812 Ive read til my eyes are bleeding on this subject, including threads on here and on the atf site. Maybe its ADD but I havent found a definitive answer on a couple points of this transaction. Heres my situation, Im moving from WA to NC. I have 1 shotgun, 2 rifles, 2 handguns. From what Ive read, I can ship them to myself to my new address, which I hope is correct. My questions are as follows: (1) Can I ship them together or combine a certain number of them? (2) Must I notify USPS/UPS what Im shipping, (3) Must I ship all or part of these overnight? Thanks for the help guys, I really tried to figure it out on my own, but Im more confused now then when I started

Handguns are only mailable via USPS by a licensed dealer or manufacturer. If you do it you commit a Federal crime. You are stuck with UPS (FedEx will not deliver to a nonlicensee in your case). UPS requires handguns to be shipped Next Day which will run you around $60-80. Yes, you can ship both handguns together.
UPS regs here:http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/guidelines/firearms.html?srch_pos=3&srch_phr=handgun

Your rifles and shotguns can be mailed (USPS) or shipped UPS. If you choose USPS send them Priority Mail with full value insurance (avoid Parcel Post). If UPS you can ship Ground.

..........Erroneous cut & paste removed.........

 

[NavyLCDR]

(1) You can combine all the firearms in one package, if you desire. Rifles/shotguns can be sent by US Postal Service, but it is illegal for you to send the handguns via US Postal Service. According to company policies, you must use overnight to ship the handguns and according to FEDEX regulations, they will not accept the firearms if they are not being sent to an FFL, so that leaves UPS for the handguns.

(2) There is no legal requirement to notify US Postal Service of shipping a rifle/shotgun. Since the shipment will be going out-of-state, to a non-FFL, you must notify UPS or FEDEX in writing that the shipment contains a firearm to comply with Federal law.

(3) There is no legal requirement to ship overnight. UPS and FEDEX, by company policy, require handguns to be shipped overnight.

Why not just carry the guns with you?

 

[NavyLCDR]

There is no Federal law that requires notification to USPS/FedEx/UPS. BUT....UPS shipping policies do require notification.

Why would 18 USC 922 (e) not apply? The shipment would be going out of state, and assumed to not be going to an FFL...

§ 922. Unlawful acts
(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped

I don't see an exception for shipping firearms to yourself (unless 'yourself' happens to hold an FFL). Isn't cpuckett812 considered to be a person other than a licensed importer, a licensed manufacturer, a licensed dealer, or a licensed collector?

 

[cpuckett812]

Im going from WA to NC on a motorcycle. I am considering carrying the handguns with me, stored in a saddlebag in locked container seperate from the ammunition in the states where my CCW permit isnt recognized. I was able to find on the UPS website somewhere that I was allowed to ship rifle and shotgun to myself, Im assuming to accomodate hunters who hunt out of state, but I havent been able to back that up with any federal laws stating that was acceptable

 

[dogtown tom]

There is no federal law that says it's okay to ship a gun to yourself, as laws restrict, not enable.
There is also no federal law prohibiting you from shipping a gun to yourself.
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html#shipping-firearms-usps

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)]

Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by common or contract carrier?
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm. ***This is not true...see the actual citation from the USC below
[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a) (3), 922(a)(5) and 922(e), 27 CFR 478.31 and 478.30]

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.

 

[cpuckett812]

There is no federal law that says it's okay to ship a gun to yourself, as laws restrict, not enable.
There is also no federal law prohibiting you from shipping a gun to yourself.
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unli...-firearms-usps

Ahh...Very good point there Dogtown Tom. I am ashamed of myself for looking through page after page, looking for where it says the government gives me permission to do something. That was the wrong mindset from the beginning. Good job on setting me straight my friend

 

[cane]

For those of you who say there's no requirement to notify the carrier of shipping a firearm, here's someone who was convicted in Federal court for failing to do so. http://www.ledgernews.com/news/503-...nts-sentenced-in-federal-gun-trafficking-case

 

[NavyLCDR]

For those of you who say there's no requirement to notify the carrier of shipping a firearm, here's someone who was convicted in Federal court for failing to do so.

Shipping firearms out-of-state and to an unlicensed party (non-FFL) requires written notification to a common or contract carrier that a firearm is being shipped.

That was the case in the article: Moore sent firearms from Georgia to California to an unlicensed person - Quinn without written notification to the carrier.

However, Federal law does NOT requirement notification if either the firearms are being shipped within the same state OR are going to an FFL in any state.