Effective October 13, 2016, the Postal Service™ is revising Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, part 432, to correct an error published in the June 23, 2016, edition (22444) of the Postal Bulletin, and to provide uniformity with regard to the mailing options that can be used with firearms.
In the revisions announced in Postal Bulletin 22444, the Postal Service included a new requirement specifying that regulated firearms, mailed between Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) licensed dealers, manufacturers, and importers (FFLs), must be mailed by a product, or include an Extra Service, that provides for tracking and signature capture at delivery. Although the Postal Service strongly recommends that all regulated firearms be mailed using these services, it was not the intent of the Postal Service to place new requirements on commercial shipments between FFLs.
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail
* * * * *
4 Restricted Matter
* * * * *
43 Firearms
* * * * *
432 Mailability
432.1 General
* * * * *
[Revise 432.1e. to read as follows:]
e. Except for shipments between licensed dealers, manufacturers, or importers, all regulated firearms must be mailed using a USPS product or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.
* * * * *
432.3 Rifles and Shotguns
* * * * *
[Revise 432.3a.2 to read as follows:]
2. Be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.
* * * * *
[Revise 432.3b.4 to read as follows:]
4. Be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.
[Revise 432.3c. through 432.3e. to read as follows:]
c. Mailing of rifles and shotguns between licensed FFL dealers, manufacturers, or importers are not restricted. The Postal Service recommends that these items be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.
d. Rifles and shotguns may be mailed by a non-FFL owner domestically to a FFL dealer, manufacturer, or importer in any state. These items must be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.
e. Except as described in 432.2a, licensed curio and relic collectors may mail firearms meeting the definition of curios or relics under 27 CFR 478.11 domestically to licensed FFL curio and relic collectors in any state. These items must be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.
* * * * *
We will incorporate this revision into the next update of online Publication 52, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Marketing and Sales, 10-13-16
