Protecting the Mailing of Firearms

Summary#

This bill would repeal 18 U.S.C. section 1715 and stop the United States Postal Service from making rules that block or strongly limit the mailing of firearms, ammunition, or their parts. It would also bar the Postal Service from requiring, as a condition of mailing, that sellers disclose customer sales receipts, firearms transaction records, or other customer records kept by licensed firearm or ammunition sellers. The Postal Service also could not require disclosure of a firearm or component serial number as a mailing condition. The repeal of section 1715 would apply to any prosecutions under that section that are pending when the bill becomes law.

What it means for you#

• People and businesses that ship firearms, ammunition, or parts would not be subject to Postal Service rules that prohibit or "materially impede" those mailings, according to the bill text.
• The Postal Service would be barred from making rule changes that require disclosure of seller records or serial numbers as a condition for mailing those items.
• The bill would remove section 1715 from federal law and would apply that repeal to any pending cases under that section.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill is presented as a measure "to protect and enhance the interstate shipment of firearms, ammunition, and components thereof." Its sponsors seek to prevent Postal Service rules that would prohibit or materially impede mailing those items or require certain seller records or serial numbers as mailing conditions.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.