With No Warning UPS Cancels Brownells’ & Ghost Guns’ Accounts-May ‘Seize and Destroy’ Packages
You might ask yourself, did I read that title correctly, or is it just a clickbait title that has nothing to do with the actual article? Let me assure you, you're not being misled, and the news is concerning. The shipping giant United Parcel Service of America (UPS) canceled the accounts of two businesses that sell gun parts.
Here's what we know so far.
UPS Headquarters Vis Google Street View
UPS Moves Against 2 Gun Businesses—
Days before our country celebrated Independence from England, and shortly following the Supreme Court's important ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association V. Bruen, UPS began closing accounts of online gun parts dealers. On July 1st, the well-known retailer Brownells posted an update on Facebook, that the company received notice that UPS was closing Brownells' account, and would no longer accept any packages. Brownells has since deleted the post, but UPS is no longer listed as a shipping option on their page.
UPS Vanishes From Brownells' Website—
Here is a screenshot from the Brownells shipping webpage, obtained through a publicly accessed website called ‘Way Back Machine'. The website crawls the internet, and saves web page information, so we can go back and see what specific pages looked like in the past. The January 13, 2022 date is the last time Way Back Machine captured the shipping page for Brownells. As you see, Brownells lists UPS as a ground shipping option.
If you go to the Brownells website today, UPS is no longer an option. I'm not sure why Brownells pulled the Facebook post, but perhaps it was advice from their attorneys who are preparing legal action. That's just speculation, but for sure, something is going on.
UPS vs. Ghost Guns—
We get a bit more information from a smaller company called Ghost Firearms. Besides other firearm parts, Ghost Firearms sells upper build kits and standalone lowers for AR style sporting rifles. In a letter from UPS to Ghost Guns, UPS says they…
…learned that your company [Ghost Guns] may be violating applicable laws concerning the shipping of “ghost guns” to unauthorized locations. In light of our concerns, UPS has determined that it will cancel your account effective immediately…Please note that any packages in the UPS system determined to be tendered by Ghost Firearms may be seized and destroyed.
Above is just part of the letter. I've included the full text in the image below.
Credit: The Firearm Blog and Ghost Firearms
None of the kits sold by Brownells or Ghost Guns meet UPS' definition of Prohibited Firearms, nor in my estimation, a firearm using the ATF's recent and flawed “rule” explained here: FINAL RULE 2021R-05F Definition of “Frame or Receiver” and Identification of Firearms.
What is UPS' Reasoning and Justification?
UPS might believe that any 80% lower, or upper build kit is a “firearm.” And shipping to certain states is in violation of specific state laws. Assuming this is the case, UPS may cite part of their policy that says, “The shipper must comply with and must ensure that each shipment containing firearms complies with all federal, state and local laws applicable to the shipper, recipient, and package, including, without limitation, age restrictions.”
I'm not saying that is UPS' reasoning, just that is a possibility given the limited information we have at the moment.
This is an ongoing story, and some things are unclear. I can't imagine that without a legal order, UPS could seize packages and destroy the contents based on their own determination that a company violated a law. If the ATF is involved, they likely would be the ones to seize and destroy any packages. If the ATF is involved, it's likely we won't see a definite resolution to the situation anytime soon.
Is this move against Brownells and Ghost Guns a harbinger of things to come for other online gun parts dealers? Will UPS and other shipping companies drop more companies for perceived violations of state laws or restrictive company policies?
What do you guys think? Leave us a comment.
I had a gun to ship back to Colt. The clerk at the UPS depot about had a stroke when I presented him the package. I had their policy printed out ready to go just in case. I can’t ship this. You can ship it and you will ship it dude. The first blood clot reached his brain and he got exasperated and stomped off with a huff.
The depot manager herself came out and I laid the printed policy on the counter. She was pissed too for some reason and told me it wasn’t needed she’s shipping it. Then I insured it and got a huff from her too.
It made it there and back and I got a giggle from the encounter.
FedEx don’t care. They’ll accept anything.
This was all years ago. YMMV but it looks like UPS still has a deep seated hatred.
I do have to add that I did see a post from a UPS manager on another gun forum and he said that this has been an error on reporting and that they have no plans to stop shipping weapons or parts and that the initial letter was not official, but I have no way to verify his claim either.
Today, we received firearms shipments to our gun shop from UPS.
Forget, about UPS i will use a non union shop and to think that UPS former CEO was a graduate from my HS SJWNY
Plain & simple, it’s time to BOYCOTT UPS.
What I am wondering however, is there a set of regulations on COMMON CARRIERS that addresses this kind of POLITICAL SELECTIVITY?
BOYCOTT…..BOYCOTT…..BOYCOTT…..BOYCOTT…..BOYCOTT…..BOYCOTT
AGREE…AGREE…AGREE…AGREE…AGREE!
This is just another way the socialist democratic party is trying to take away our 2nd Amendment Rights. By leaning heavily on the woke morons who run these shipping companies i.e. UPS.
Your right , The Demoncrats sent letters to the shipping companies and threatened them about shipping Ghost guns and other illegal firearms ! There is a video about it on , YouTube ! I think I was Bradley talking about it !
I never was a significant user of UPS. Should it turn out that they actually are pulling this stunt, my most recent use of UPS services will be my last.
A few weeks back, UPS did not want to ship a “shotgun barrel” back to “Mossberg”. I had a good verbal argument with the manager and counter worker. I told them that they needed to get their heads out of their XXX and read their company regulations on this subject.
I did ship it via “FEDEX” with no problem.
Well another business decides to go political I hope it bites them in the butt. Will I use ups? Hell no.
UPS has become political and incompetent. Had an order that was shipped through UPS of which they delivered to another address across town which was not on the package. They refused to do anything about it. They felt the package was delivered so they have nothing more to do with it. It’s not their fault the driver did not deliver it to the correct address. Not the first time this has happened. UPS has proved to be incompetent and untrustworthy. I will not use them going forward for anything.
UPS is digging a deep hole. 1. Receiving customer paid for the item and maybe the shipping fee also. They just stole legalized shipment from receiver without federal authorization or orders to hold for said feds. 2. Becomes destruction of personal property which is a (dependent on value) misdemeanor or felony. If I were on the receiving end there would be one big lawsuit and probably a class action suit built. I am not an attorney, just common sense really for thought.
With difficulty obtaining ammo, I have ordered from Federal and CCI websites. The UPS drivers have repeatedly left small arms ammo packages on my driveway, 1/2 mile from my house, along a well traveled state highway instead of bringing it to the house. I have visited the main shipping center to complain as there is no way to do it online or over the phone and they didn’t care.
I have heard of miss delivered packages that UPS would do nothing about. the packages contained no firearm related objects.
Just simple incompetence coupled with lack of proper supervision.
And what can Brown lose for you today? 😎😎
It’s stupid how many businesses are determined to alienate half of their customer base just to voice (and enforce) their political ideologies. I mean, how big is that list by now? Nike, Dicks, Walmart, (I’m just going off memory) now UPS. Screw UPS!
This country feels like it’s in a tailspin……… SMH
That supposed letter from UPS to “Ghost Firearms” is a forgery, plain and simple.
This whole thing should be activating the BS meter of anyone who possess critical thinking skills.
Why isn’t the letter addressed to a specific person at Ghost Firearms? Professional business correspondence is usually addressed to the specific individual at the company responsible for this particular function.
Notwithstanding that there is no such company as “Ghost Firearms.” The name was changed to “GRID Defense” quite some time ago.
UPS is going to cancel an account because the customer might do something? That just doesn’t pass the smell test.
If there is an account, I’m sure there is an account number. Why isn’t it referenced?
By whose authority are they going to be seizing and destroying property that doesn’t belong to them? Nobody’s that’s who’s. First off, here in the real world outside of paranoid Fantasyland that would be known as theft. Secondly, and the legal experts here can correct me on this if I’m wrong, that would be tampering with evidence. And that is a crime in itself. Yeah that’s right: if you suspect that a crime has been committed and you destroy the evidence thereof, that itself is a crime.
Anyone who thinks that the legal department of a multi-billion dollar, multinational corporation like UPS would have let this past them hasn’t got their head on straight.
Why isn’t this letter signed by a specific person at this supposed “Customer Compliance Department?” Again, professional business correspondence is usually signed by a specific person.
Just the name “Customer Compliance Department” sounds bogus. Like someone made it up to scare people. Businesses develop and maintain relationships with customers. Businesses serve customers. Businesses don’t make customers “comply.”
When governments and corporations become one monolith that you can not fight, it fits the definition of fascism. The corporations have the power and the government becomes their enforcers. Your vote is meaningless.
Everyone is missing the great news in all this.
ATFs new bs “ruling” was going to have to wait until someone was arrested, charged, convicted, then appealed the conviction to a higher court thereby challenging at as an aggrieved party.
This just sped that up. Brownell, Ghost guns, and anyone else who’s collective —– ups has stepped on…are now aggrieved parties…the clock to judicial overturn of Biden and his ATFs BS is already ticking.
And what happened to the UPS truck loaded with firearms duh 🙄
At least today UPS brought me my shipment of ammo here in Tempe..