Federal Court Rules USPS Gun Ban Unconstitutional in Texas

A federal judge in the Northern District of Texas has ruled that the long-standing federal ban on carrying firearms inside United States Post Offices and on surrounding postal property is unconstitutional as applied to members of the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), and two named Texas plaintiffs. The ruling struck down federal statute 18 U.S.C. § 930(a) and postal regulation 39 C.F.R. § 232.1(l) as violating the Second Amendment when applied to 'ordinary' post offices, excluding locations on military bases or within federal buildings housing other government functions. Judge Reed O’Connor emphasized that there is no historical precedent supporting such a ban and that the government failed to justify it under constitutional scrutiny, referencing the Supreme Court's Bruen test. The injunction prevents the government from enforcing the firearm prohibition against the plaintiffs and qualifying members of the FPC and SAF, though awareness and caution are advised due to ongoing signage and potential confrontations. This ruling marks a significant victory for gun rights advocates and could set a precedent for similar challenges nationwide, while the government retains the option to appeal. The decision highlights tensions around the balance of Second Amendment rights and federal regulations on public property.