Gun Rights Groups Sue USPS Over 1927 Handgun Mailing Ban

Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, and Pennsylvania resident Bonita Shreve have filed a federal lawsuit challenging a 1927 law that prohibits mailing handguns through the U.S. Postal Service, arguing it violates the Second Amendment. The plaintiffs contend that while businesses and government agencies can ship handguns, ordinary Americans are unfairly restricted, creating an unconstitutional double standard. They assert the law is outdated, originating in a Prohibition-era context, and inconsistent with the historical understanding of firearm regulation at the nation’s founding. The lawsuit seeks to bar enforcement of the law, which currently makes mailing handguns a felony punishable by fines and imprisonment. Gun rights advocates claim this ban infringes on law-abiding citizens' constitutional rights, while gun control supporters have yet to respond but are expected to raise safety concerns. The case follows the 2022 Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which established a new test for evaluating modern gun regulations based on historical tradition.