In January, the Justice Department reevaluated the 1927 law
Firearms could be sent via the United States Postal Service (USPS) for the first time in almost 100 years, if a rule proposed by the Government led by Donald Trump comes into effect.
In January, the Justice Department reevaluated the 1927 law, finding it unconstitutional and arguing that it violated the Second Amendment, and urged the Postal Service to change its regulations.
The Justice Department has argued that as long as Congress chooses to run a mail order service, “the Second Amendment prevents it from refusing to ship constitutionally protected firearms to and from law-abiding citizens, even if they are not licensed manufacturers or dealers.”
Last month, the USPS proposed a new rule that would allow anyone to send concealable firearms, such as pistols and revolvers, through the mail.
Currently, the USPS allows the shipping of some firearms, such as long-barreled shotguns and shotguns, as long as they are unloaded and safely packaged.
Similar provisions would apply to handguns, which have evolved since 1927.
The USPS explained in a statement that it is reviewing public feedback before making final changes.
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat running for governor, said the rule change would undo the work states like Nevada have done to curb gun violence.
Nevada suffered the deadliest massacre in modern US history when a gunman opened fire from the Mandalay Bay casino hotel in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017, killing 60 people.
Under the proposed rules, someone could sell and ship a gun to a person within state lines.
The rules are stricter for sending guns in the mail between states, people could only send the gun to themselves, in the care of another person, and would be required to open it in person.
The Justice Department has argued that the diversity of state gun laws makes it difficult to transport them interstate for legal purposes such as target shooting, hunting and self-defense.
He also highlighted that, in many cases, people are unable to travel with a firearm, making mailing it the “only viable method of transportation.”
Ford and other attorneys general from about two dozen states on Monday sent a letter urging the USPS to withdraw the proposed rule, saying it will make it easier for people who cannot legally own them, such as individuals convicted of serious crimes or domestic violence, to access firearms.
They also warned that the rule will make it harder to solve gun crimes.
According to attorneys general, state laws include requirements such as firearms safety courses, background checks and mental health history assessments.
These requirements are regulated by state entities, which would be circumvented if the rule change were implemented, they argued.
There will be no way to ensure someone is following the rules and not shipping a firearm across state lines to someone else, they claimed.
Gun rights groups applauded the proposed change, while gun safety organizations expressed concern.
