D.C. WASHINGTON. The lawsuit by the two national gun advocacy organizations. It is aimed at overturning an over 50-year-old federal statute. That barred the United States Postal Service (USPS) against mailing handguns by individuals. Gun Owners of America and its legal arm,Gun Owners Foundation together with Bonita Shreve, a Pennsylvania resident filed. A federal suit in The Western District of Pennsylvania. According to the plaintiffs, the ban on mailing of handguns of 1927 is unconstitutional and discriminates. It is against individual gun owners (interest owners) against businesses and the state. Shreve has decided to send a handgun to her father. As a personal gift according to the legal complaint. But the federal policies and USPS policies do not allow people who are not licensed to ship handguns through the use of the postal services.
The Issue in Focus is Second Amendment
The plaintiffs argue that the statute infringes the Second Amendment of the American Constitution. That states the right to keep and bear arms. According to them, businesses and law enforcement agencies have the authority to send mails of handguns. So should the citizens who are not government employees.
Senior vice president of Gun Owners of America, Erich Pratt, released a statement citing the restriction as an outdated and unconstitutional one. Banning a handgun in the mail was a decision accepted by the government. In the 1920s, but now Pratt says that it does not have any legitimate use. It violates the Second Amendment. Legitimate citizens must be given equal access to legitimate ways of shipping firearms.
It is clear that the regulation is a relic of a past age. Sam Paredes said, representing the Gun Owners Foundation organization. that it does not correspond to realities today. This ban was enacted during a different time. When the state was very clear. It is just a glitch on the rights of the responsible gun owners. Rather than a help in the modern context, Paredes added. As long as this law stands, it violates constitutional freedoms each day.
Sending Handguns: A Criminal Offense of Individuals
In its present form, sending a handgun via USPS is defined as Class E felony. The maximum punishment that can be gotten. because the offense is up to 2 years in jail and 250, 000 dollars. Although, licensed sales people of firearms and government personnel are exempted by the law.The military are allowed to have possession of the firearms. Ordinary citizens are not allowed, under any circumstances. To use the mails to transfer handguns. Whether legally owned or not, even with the most well-intentioned motive. There are additional restrictions placed within the policy of companies. In operation like UPS, and FedEx. When it comes to the transportation of handguns by individuals. What little is possible is the legal transfer of guns by individuals. That are family members or bona fide owners between states when used privately.
An Equal Treatment Movement
The plaintiffs are not demanding freest shipping of firearms. But rather an opportunity to be treated equally by the provisions of the current gun laws. They argue that individual persons who adhere to all the applicable background checks. Law procedures ought to enjoy the privilege of utilizing the USPS to transfer hand guns. In just the same way that other official bodies do.
In the lawsuit, it has been mentioned that the current tracking technology. Increased controls over shipping ventures can address the security issue. And to accommodate the feeble shipments. A bit of organization is at all possible.
The USPS Refuses to Comment
A U.S. Postal Service spokesperson refused to comment on the case. Stating that it had a blanket policy of not commenting on active litigation. Regulations governing the USPS have always been based on an act passed in 1927 called the Federal Firearms Act. That initially formulated the mailing prohibition. To act as one of the means in curbing crime. At the time of the Prohibition period. The prohibition of handgun mailing has not had much repair. Since then although some gun laws have been tampered with over the years.
History of the Ban
The law under consideration was passed. In the era of increasing gun violence. At the time of the Prohibition. It was passed to thwart easy shipping of firearms by mail especially by criminal entities. However, defenders of gun control retort. That the provisions and scenarios of then are not relevant. in contemporary measures. They emphasize that currently the government licenses organizations. They ship handguns via USPS under regulated situations. And say that individual citizens should not be made to suffer merely. because they do not have a federal license.
Legal And Political Implications
The case challenges are part of an overall litigation plan. by Second Amendment advocacy organizations to attack gun restriction laws in this nation. The recent additions of Supreme Court decisions. They tied to gun rights like the Brun ruling of 2022. It makes gun rights groups feel that the wind is in their sails. Legal analysts opine that the case will give the judicial system. An opportunity to review gun rules. That is no more applicable in our present society. Especially those deemed to be arbitrary and discriminatory. It is against individuals in the private sector. Should the lawsuit succeed USPS may be required. To change some of its internal policies and perhaps. The way firearms are being transferred in the U.S. in general.
Wider Influence on the Gun Policy
The court case points to the existing clash of desire. To increase gun rights and the government role in safeguarding the population. Opponents of relaxation of gun policies. Say that the more guns get transported to new owners albeit. Through legal means, the more the chances of stolen or misappropriated firearms. The proponents respond by saying that responsible gun owners. It should not be subjected to additional hurdles. It is considering that there are other activities of this sort.
particularly when work pertaining to the same activities. It is given a go to businesses and institutions.
Conclusion
The attack on the 1927 mailing ban of handguns. It is forming up to become a reference point of the extent. To which the constitutional provisions can be stretched. When it comes to firearm logistics. It is a conflict, a conflict at its core, between personal freedom and the decades-old policy of the federal government. And it has the potential of changing. The future of the exchange of personal firearms, across state lines. As more pressure is put on by push groups. And as various courts interpret the Second Amendment differently. This case has wide-ranging implications on gun users, as well as, their federal governments.
