USPS Shipping Question

[San Jose Gun Trader]

The biggest mistake was getting a human at USPS involved.

Pay the $10/mo. for endicia.com and print out nice prepaid Priority Mail labels with signature confirmation. Use their free boxes that will deliver to your door. Take the package to the post office and plunk it down on the counter and walk away. That or just give it to your carrier.

I got frustrated years ago trying to teach post office employees their job and having to quote the postal manual to get anything done. Keep it simple and you will save big $$$ over UPS/FEDEX.

It's always a mistake involving a large gov system. We just ship it from home now and the mail lady is always nice about it. Who signs the 1508 for endicia.com?

[kemasa]

You can save the money and print the label online from the USPS web site, which also allows you to ship USPS Regional Priority, as well as ordering those free boxes.

It is best to drop the box off and keep a copy of the 1508 since if they lose it, you might have a problem with insurance.

[Eddy's Shooting Sports]

Here's a good hypothetical question. What is the penalty for NOT filing form 1508?

[kemasa]

Here's a good hypothetical question. What is the penalty for NOT filing form 1508?

It does not say what the fine is, but you can get up to two years in prison. Two years of room and board is worth quite a bit, not to mention all the sex you don't want :-).

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1715

...
Whoever knowingly deposits for mailing or delivery, or knowingly causes to be delivered by mail according to the direction thereon, or at any place to which it is directed to be delivered by the person to whom it is addressed, any pistol, revolver, or firearm declared nonmailable by this section, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

[Eddy's Shooting Sports]

Read it again.

It's not declared unmailable if you are licensed to mail it, you are simply not declaring it via the form. Somehow I don't think that would draw a two year sentence.....

[kemasa]

Read it again.

It's not declared unmailable if you are licensed to mail it, you are simply not declaring it via the form. Somehow I don't think that would draw a two year sentence.....

Actually, it is. You need to read the whole thing. You have to follow ALL of the regulations in order to change it from non-mailable to mailable.

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 or delivered by any officer or employee of the Postal Service. Such articles may be conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postal Service shall prescribe, for use in connection with their official duty, to officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Organized Reserve Corps; to officers of the National Guard or Militia of a State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District; to officers of the United States or of a State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District whose official duty is to serve warrants of arrest or commitments; to employees of the Postal Service; to officers and employees of enforcement agencies of the United States; and to watchmen engaged in guarding the property of the United States, a State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District. Such articles also may be conveyed in the mails to manufacturers of firearms or bona fide dealers therein in customary trade shipments, including such articles for repairs or replacement of parts, from one to the other, under such regulations as the Postal Service shall prescribe.

http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_009.htm

432.2 Handguns

Handguns and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person are nonmailable unless mailed between the parties listed in Exhibit 432.2, DMM 601.12.1.3, and 601.12.1.5 after the filing of an affidavit or statement described in DMM 601.12.1.4 and 601.12.1.6, and are subject to the following:

So, handguns are non-mailable UNLESS it is between FFLS AND the affidavit is filed (Form 1508). Failure to file the form 1508 means it is non-mailable as you are not following the regulations and therefore could be subject to the penalty.

[Ron-Solo]

Tools, man! I always tell them I'm shipping tools.

Then you are violating Federal law and insurance won't cover you if it gets lost.

I can't believe people still suggest this moronic concept.

[ke6guj]

Then you are violating Federal law and insurance won't cover you if it gets lost.

I can't believe people still suggest this moronic concept.

only if you are shipping to a non-licensee. If you are shipping to an FFL, there is no federal requirement to notify. you need to read the USC and CFR for this, the ATF FAQ is inaccurate.

and I am assuming that troysland and ron-solo are talking about a private person shipping/mailing firearms, not an FFL>FFL handgun shipment through the USPS.