UNLOAD – triple
check to be sure the guns are unloaded
Tips on
Shipping Guns;
Long
guns can be difficult to pack. You may want to invest $30 or
so in a hard plastic gun case from K-Mart or WalMart or such, and
use it for a shipping container.
Kentucky
rifles & other antique long guns with long slender stocks
are especially vulnerable to breakage at the wrist (the area just
behind the hammer & trigger). To try to prevent this, you may
want to first wrap the gun in a protective material such as bubble
wrap, and then tightly tape a piece of scrap lumber (1" x
4" usually works) to the stock to re-enforce the wrist area.
Old
cases or cardboard boxes – if the wood case or old original
cardboard box has some value, remove the gun from the case or box & pack
the case & gun / accessories separately. If you don’t,
the gun may well rattle around & damage the box or case. Old
cardboard boxes should be filled w/ styro peanuts or bubble wrap
to prevent crushing. Box/case & gun can be sent in the same
shipping container, so long as they are both well padded.
Ship
ammo separately. Ammunition MUST be shipped by common carrier
(UPS or FedEx) ground service only, with the package marked "ORM-D" (for
small arms ammo).
UNLOAD – triple
check to be sure the guns are unloaded
Gun
Definitions and Terms;
ANTIQUE FIREARMS (generally, any gun made prior
to 1899) under federal law may be mailed or shipped to & from
private individuals (non-FFL) by post office or common carrier.
MODERN
FIREARMS (generally, any gun after 1898) are subject to numerous
restrictions on mailing & shipping. While there are exceptions,
generally private individuals (non-FFL) may only ship modern firearms
by common carrier to Federally licensed dealers or collectors (FFL’s).
MAILING
MODERN HANDGUNS – Mailing of modern handguns is only
permitted between FFL Dealers. FFL Dealers mailing guns to other
FFL Dealers are required to fill out a special post office form
on each such mailing.
UPS & FED-EX
POLICIES ON HANDGUNS – both of these large common carriers
have unilaterally adopted policies that require handguns to be
shipped only by the expensive overnight ("next-day")
method. They do NOT differentiate between antique & modern
handguns in this requirement.
INSURE for
what you’re comfortable with if the guns are lost or damaged.
Any
transactions should be worked out before any transfer of funds or
merchandise begins
UNLOAD – triple
check to be sure the guns are unloaded
A
common belief is that modern firearms manufacturered after Jan 1,
1898 must be shipped from an FFL (Federal Firearms License) to an
FFL holder. The Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide ATF
P 5300.4(10-95), page 105, provides details on this topic, since
there are exceptions, except for handguns. It states that an individual
may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of their own state, or
to a holder of an FFL in any state. Handguns are not mailable
Federal
Law requires that all modern firearms be shipped only to a holder
of a valid Federal Firearms License (FFL). The recipient must be
have an FFL; however the sender is not required to have one. Any
person who is legally allowed to own a firearm is legally allowed
to ship it to an FFL holder for any legal purpose (including sale
or resale).
UNLOAD – triple
check to be sure the guns are unloaded
Federal
Laws;
as of 9-11-2003
Here
is exactly what the ATF 'Federal Firearms Regulations Reference
Guide' (ATF P 5300.4) says:
(B9) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by carrier?
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by carrier to a resident of his or her own
state or to a licensee in any state. A common or contract carrier must be
used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier
be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or
contract
carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package
indicating that it contains a firearm. [18 U. S. C. 922( a)( 2)( A) and 922(
e), 27 CFR 178.31]
B8)
May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U. S. Postal Service?
A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own
state or to a licensee in any state. Handguns are not mailable. A common
or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. A nonlicensee may not
transfer any firearm to a nonlicensed resident of another state. The Postal
Service recommends that longguns be sent by registered mail and that no marking
of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on
the outside of any parcel containing firearms.
'Antique'
firearms need not be shipped to a licensed dealer. These can be shipped
directly to the buyer. An antique firearm is a firearm built in or
before 1898, or a replica thereof. The exact ATF definition of an
antique firearm is:
Antique firearm. (a) Any firearm (including any firearm with
a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured
in or before 1898; and (b) any replica of any firearm described in paragraph
(a) of this definition if such replica (1) is not designed or redesigned for
using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition, or (2) uses rimfire
or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in
the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels
of commercial trade.
Knives,
air guns, accessories, and most gun parts need not be shipped to
an FFL holder. We say most gun parts because each firearm contains
at least one part that the ATF considers a firearm. This part is
typically the part that contains the serial number. (the Reciver)
This part must be treated as a complete firearm when shipping the
item.
Ammunition
must be clearly identified as 'Small Arms Ammunition' on the outside
of the box. Some shippers treat ammunition as dangerous or hazardous
materials.
The
section of the US Code that governs modern firearms is called Commerce
in Firearms and Ammunition (CFA). This code is available online at: www.atf.treas.gov/regulations/27cfr178.html
Federal
and State Law Resources
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) has a very
comprehensive site containing information about the various Federal and state
laws regulating firearms. Please refer to the ATF information for legal questions
regarding firearms.
Shipment
by Unlicensed Persons
Any shipper who does not have a Federal Firearms License (FFL)
is considered to be an 'unlicensed person'. This section contains information
on how unlicensed persons can ship firearms. If you have an FFL, please skip
to the next section for shipping suggestions.
The most important thing to know is that you must only ship
guns to a licensed dealer. If the buyer is not a licensed dealer, he will have
to make arrangements with a dealer in his state to ship the item to.
Before
you ship a gun, the buyer must mail you a copy of the dealer's FFL
license, signed in blue or red ink.
You can only ship the gun to the address on the license. You must
inform the carrier that the package contains a firearm. Of course, the firearm
cannot be shipped loaded; ammunition may not be shipped in the same box.
You should take the copy of the signed FFL with you when you take
the item to be shipped in case the shipper wishes to see it.
Notes
on specific shippers:
US
Mail: An unlicensed person can ship a rifle or shotgun by US
Mail. Unlicensed persons cannot ship a handgun by US Mail. Postal
regulations allow the Post Office to open your package for inspection.
Ammunition cannot be shipped by US Mail. You can search the US
Post Offer Postal Explorer site for specific USPS regulations regarding
firearms and ammunition.
http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub52.htm
FedEx: FedEx
will only ship firearms via their Priority Overnight service. Ammunition
must be shipped as dangerous goods.
UPS: UPS
will accept handgun shipments by Next Day Air only. Rifles and shotguns
can be shipped by UPS ground service. UPS will accept shipments of
ammunition.
Most
other shippers will no longer accept firearm shipments. Airborne
and Roadway have specifically prohibited firearm shipments.
Shipment
by Licensed Persons
Any shipper who has a Federal Firearms License (FFL) is considered
to be a 'licensed person'. This section contains information on how licensed
persons can ship firearms. If you do not have an FFL, please see the previous
section of this page for for shipping instructions.
Since licensed persons are responsible for knowing the law,
we are going to assume that you already understand the CGA and know the applicable
Federal, state, and local laws.
Notes
on specific shippers:
US
Mail: Licensed persons can ship a rifle, shotguns, or handguns
by US Mail. In fact, we suggest that you use the USPS as it is
now the most cost-effective way to ship a handgun. To ship a rifle
or shotgun, you need only inform the Post Office that the package
contains a firearm. A licensed manufacturer, dealer, or importer
can ship a handgun via the US Post Office if the licensed dealer
fills out a US Post Office Form PS 1508 and files it with the local
Post Office branch where the handgun is to be shipped. You can
search the US Post Offer Postal Explorer site for specific USPS
regulations regarding firearms and ammunition.http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub52.htm
FedEx: FedEx
will only ship firearms via their Priority Overnight service. Ammunition
must be shipped as dangerous goods. NSSF members can sign up for
a discount of up to 26% on FedEx shipments.
UPS:
UPS will accept handgun shipments by Next Day Air only. Rifles and
shotguns can be shipped by UPS ground service. UPS will accept shipments
of ammunition.
ill
no longer accept firearm shipments. Airborne and Roadway have specifically
prohibited firearm shipments.
UNLOAD – triple
check to be sure the guns are unloaded
Notes
on USPS Firearm Regulations
We recommend that you read the Post Office
regulations on Other
Restricted or Nonmailable Matter before shipping a firearm
through the US Mail.
The following info comes from the USPS Regulation DMM Issue
54, January 10, 1999, section C-024
Page
C-39, section 3.0, Rifles and Shotguns: "Although unloaded rifles
and shotguns not precluded by 1.1e and 1.2 are mailable, mailers
must comply with the Gun Control Act or 1968, Public Law 90-618,
18 USC 921, et seq., and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
27 CFR 178, as well as state and local laws. The mailer may be required
by the USPS to establish, by opening the parcel or by written certification,
that the gun is unloaded and not precluded by 1.1e."
Page
C-39, section 6.0, PROHIBITED PARCEL MARKING: "For any parcel
containing a firearm or a ballistic or switchblade knife, any marking
that indicates the contents is not permitted on the outside wrapper
or container."
The
following pertains only to licensed dealers shipping handguns:
Page
C-37, section 1.3, Authorized Persons: "Subject to 1.4, handguns
may be mailed by a licensed manufacturer of firearms, a licensed
dealer of firearms, or an authorized agent of the federal government......."
Page
C-38, section 1.5, Manufacturers and Dealers: "Handguns may
also be mailed between licensed manufacturers of firearms and licensed
dealers of firearms in customary trade shipments, or for repairing
or replacing parts."
Page
C-38, section 1.6, Certificate of Manufacturers and Dealers: "A
licensed manufacturer or dealer need not file the affidavit under
1.4, but must file with the postmaster a statement on Form 1508 signed
by the mailer that he or she is a licensed manufacturer or dealer
of firearms, that the parcels containing handguns (or major components
thereof) are customary trade shipments or contain such articles for
repairing or replacing parts, and that to the best of his or her
knowledge or belief the addressees are licensed manufacturers or
dealers of firearms."
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