Mailing Firearms Out Of State

[carlson1]

I know I have read this on here somewhere, but can't find it. Can someone in laymens terms tell me if it is legal to mail a pistol out of state using UPS, NOT telling them it is a pistol, NOT shipping overnight, and require an Adult signature?

[longtooth]

If she does not jump in, I believe it was llwatson that answered this one. Seems like the answer is yes but that is not in the Unalterable Book Of Authority only in the ever changing law washington dc. (Lower case intended.)

[carlson1]

Thanks Longtooth. I was thinking the "overnight" was UPS rule not ATF law.

[cyphur]

If you can mail a pistol from non-licensee to non-licensee between states, then when would you use FFLs as middlemen?

I thought it was within the state you could send it whereever, but interstate needs an FFL to send it? I recall someone postin about the GCA allowing you to send it back to the manufacturer w/o an FFL regardless, since it was going to the manf.

I would love to find out what the actual law is.

[Wilson]

Can someone in laymens terms tell me if it is legal to mail a pistol out of state using UPS, NOT telling them it is a pistol

Only if you are mailing to an “other than�. To do otherwise is a violation of the 1986 Gun Control Act. Under that act if you are mailing out of state to anyone but those listed as “other than, which includes out of state FFLs, manufactures, etc,� requites you to notify the common/commercial carrier in writing.

[Wilson]

but interstate needs an FFL to send it?

You need an FFL to receive it, not send it via commercial carrier. Some unknowledgeable FFLs will not receive a handgun from out of state except from FFLs. They have this confused with mailing via United States Postal Service which is limited to FFL to FFL.

[nitrogen]

My understanding is that you can mail the pistol to yourself. For instance, if you're travelling from Dallas to Kansas City, you can mail the pistol to yourself. It must be addressed to you, and only you may open it.

[longtooth]

The "other than" is the part I remember. It was something about her mailing a KT i think. She even posted the writtn part of the REGULATION. Let her clarify it for you

[cyphur]

My understanding is that you can mail the pistol to yourself. For instance, if you're travelling from Dallas to Kansas City, you can mail the pistol to yourself. It must be addressed to you, and only you may open it.

That much I do remember being true after reading the ATF page.