Proposed USPS rule on mailing handguns could ease shipping barriers for Alaskans

By SUZANNE DOWNING

April 1, 2026 – The United States Postal Service is preparing to publish a proposed rule that could significantly change how firearms are shipped in the United States, with potentially outsized impact for Alaska residents who often rely on the mail as their primary connection to commerce.

The proposal, titled “Revised Mailing Standards: Firearms,” is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on April 2, 2026, and would revise longstanding USPS restrictions on mailing handguns.

The change stems from a January opinion by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel, which concluded that the federal ban on mailing “pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person” cannot be constitutionally applied to law-abiding citizens under the Second Amendment.

The prohibition dates back to 1927 and is codified in federal law, but the OLC determined that the blanket restriction burdens constitutionally protected arms without sufficient historical justification, particularly since USPS already allows certain long guns and handgun shipments by licensed dealers.

Under current USPS policy, private citizens generally cannot mail handguns. Only licensed manufacturers, dealers, or importers may ship them, and only under strict conditions. Rifles and shotguns face fewer restrictions. That policy has created particular challenges in Alaska, where many communities off the road system do not have access to private carriers such as UPS or FedEx, or where shipping through those carriers requires costly and time-consuming routing through regional hubs.

In many rural parts of Alaska, the local post office is the only practical way to send or receive goods. Residents who need to ship a handgun for repair, transfer ownership through lawful channels, or move personal property often must travel long distances to find a dealer willing to handle the shipment, or pay significantly higher freight costs. For subsistence hunters and residents who rely on firearms for predator protection or personal defense, those delays and expenses can be substantial.

The proposed rule would revise USPS mailing standards to allow lawful handgun shipments by eligible private citizens for legitimate purposes, including self-defense, hunting, target shooting, repairs, or relocation. The Postal Service would still require compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including interstate transfer requirements under the Gun Control Act and prohibitions on shipping firearms to prohibited persons. USPS is also expected to retain packaging, labeling, and delivery safeguards, such as secure packaging and possible adult-signature requirements.

The proposal would not change rules governing ammunition, which would remain restricted under existing hazardous-materials safety regulations. It also would not require private carriers to accept handgun shipments; many of those companies currently limit firearm shipments to licensed dealers only.

The proposed change follows litigation and constitutional analysis concluding that the nearly century-old mailing ban may no longer withstand Second Amendment scrutiny. Some states with stricter gun laws have opposed loosening the restriction, arguing that allowing handgun shipments through the mail could complicate enforcement of state regulations and increase the risk of unlawful trafficking.

The rule is only the first step in the regulatory process. Once published, it will be open for public comment before USPS considers a final version. Any final rule could take months and is likely to face legal challenges. Until a final rule is adopted, current USPS prohibitions on mailing handguns remain in place.