GOA Lawsuit Aims to Strike Down 1927 Law Banning Handgun Shipments via USPS
On July 14, 2025, Gun Owners of America (GOA), Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), and Pennsylvania resident Bonita Shreve filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania challenging the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 1715—a Prohibition-era law that bans mailing handguns through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
The lawsuit argues that this 1927 statute violates the Second Amendment by prohibiting ordinary Americans from mailing the very type of firearm the Supreme Court has called “the quintessential self-defense weapon”—the handgun.
What the Lawsuit Claims
- Historical inconsistency: The law was passed during the Prohibition era, long after the Founding, when no other federal gun laws existed. GOA argues that it's completely out of step with the original public understanding of the Second Amendment.
- Modern legal standard: Under Bruen, any firearm restriction must be historically justified. GOA asserts that no such historical precedent exists for banning the shipment of handguns.
- Protected conduct: GOA maintains that the right to keep and bear arms must include the right to transfer, ship, and receive them—especially when long guns are already mailable and private ownership is legal.
The Plaintiff’s Story: When a Gift Becomes a Felony
Bonita Shreve wants to mail her father a Bersa Thunder handgun as a gift—perfectly lawful under both state and federal law. But because she isn’t a licensed dealer, she can’t legally use USPS. And with UPS and FedEx policies barring non-FFLs from shipping handguns, she’s stuck.
She would’ve sent it already if not for the threat of felony prosecution under USPS rules.
Why It Shouldn’t Be This Hard
Let’s be honest—this shouldn’t be a legal minefield. Mailing a lawful firearm to a family member shouldn’t require a law degree, a federal license, and a three-hour road trip. We’re talking about sending an item that both sender and recipient can legally possess, with no commercial sale involved.
And here’s the kicker: the USPS is a government agency. It operates under federal authority and is bound by the Constitution just like every other arm of government. If the Constitution protects our right to keep and bear arms, that protection should apply when using a government-run mail service.
Now contrast that with FedEx and UPS—they’re private businesses. They can implement whatever policies they want, even dumb ones. But the USPS doesn’t have that excuse. If they’re going to fly the flag and operate on taxpayer dollars, they have to respect our rights.
What the Law Actually Says
18 U.S.C. § 1715 declares:
“Pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person are nonmailable and shall not be deposited in or carried by the mails.”
Violation is a Class E felony, punishable by up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
USPS regulations (Publication 52) mirror the law, making handguns nonmailable except for a privileged class: FFLs and government agents. Meanwhile, regular folks can still mail long guns.
GOA’s Constitutional Argument
The lawsuit builds its case on Heller, McDonald, Bruen, and Rahimi—all Supreme Court decisions reinforcing that:
- The Second Amendment protects individuals.
- Handguns are the most common self-defense firearm.
- Any restriction must be justified by a longstanding historical tradition.
But no such tradition exists for banning the shipment of handguns—not in the Founding Era, not even during Reconstruction. The USPS existed in 1791, and yet the government never criminalized shipping pistols until 1927.
What This Means for Gun Owners
If the court strikes down this law:
- Law-abiding Americans could once again mail handguns legally—just like they do with rifles.
- Rural and less mobile citizens wouldn’t be penalized simply because they don’t live near an FFL.
- The USPS would finally have to honor the constitutional rights of the people it serves.
📌 Bottom line: It’s time for the federal government to stop pretending that access to handguns ends at the post office door. This lawsuit might be the first real crack in the wall that’s kept American gun owners from fully exercising their rights.
FYI: The USPS is not funded with taxpayers dollars. Rather it is funded solely through postage sales.
I’m a retired postal worker. The PO is no longer considered a government agency. The workers are no longer civil service. Even as an ffl regardless which service I use for shipping. I can’t ship directly to a home
Maybe we need more change. Since I cannot receive a firearm from an FFL without it going to a different FFL, THAT should be where the challenge lies. As a kid, I remember people ordering firearms from the Sears Catalog for home delivery, not to an FFL. There is where we need to concentrate our resources, not just USPS.
I am a licensed 83 yr old gun owner and carrier and this would allow for me to send my son a firearm with out the hassle and expense.
Maybe the postal system doesn’t trust there employees for not stealing them.