Post office sign

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:20 am

mrbug wrote:My take on the Post Office is, don't carry there. One can debate the validity or correctness of a sign all day long. The message I get loud and clear is they don't want my side arm and by extension me in their facility.

RKirby · Post by **RKirby** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:35 am

frankie_the_yankee wrote:So all I need to see now is a statement from a US Attorney's office here in TX that a private citizen carrying on a TX CHL falls under Section d and that no attempt will be made to prosecute such persons, and I'll carry in post offices in comfort and confidence.

This whole issue concerning carrying on USPS property is about as clear as mud. The problem as others has mentioned is that there is no case law regarding this issue.

I use the drive up boxes on private property and stay out of the post office whenever possible. If I can't avoid going inside, I reluctantly disarm.

I have no intention of becoming the victim of a politically motivated federal prosecutor.

Venus Pax · Post by **Venus Pax** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:05 am

My problem is not with leaving it in my car while I enter the post office building. My problem with the parking lot deal. When I drive into town, I'm usually doing multiple errands.
I can forsee two possible scenarios off the top of my head that don't involve my shooting (or even taking out) the gun, yet could get me into trouble:
#1) I'm in a slow-moving line inside the building. Thug steals my gun. I report it. And where did it happen? I would be concerned about the trouble I would face just reporting a crime.
#2) Leaving the post office, I either get in a wreck or get pulled over. (I try to avoid these situations, but they happen.) I hand LEO my DL & CHL. And why were you in the post office parking lot with your gun, ma'am?

I try not to go to the post office anymore than necessary for this very reason.

seamusTX · Post by **seamusTX** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:14 am

City police cannot enforce federal laws.

- Jim

LedJedi · Post by **LedJedi** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:50 pm

seamusTX wrote:City police cannot enforce federal laws.

- Jim

Think maybe they could hold you until feds could be contacted? I can't imagine that actually happening unless you really peeved the LEO though.

You know, I went to one of those mail-n-more places the other day to mail a package. I did a 30.06 scan, but never occurred to me that they might be considered an official post office. Think that's over the limit? They to accept mail though.

Personally, i generally consider any federal place off limits and make it a practice to lock the gun in my car before going inside. Not sure about the parking lot thing. That may be the letter of the law (i know it's debatable) but that seems like it's pushing it.

anyway, on to my question. For those folks that leave it in the car, do you ever worry about being seen moving the fun from your locked box to your holster again. We've got dark tint on the windows, but i'm still a bit paranoid about that. Anyone come up with a good solution?

frankie_the_yankee · Post by **frankie_the_yankee** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:31 pm

LedJedi wrote:
seamusTX wrote:City police cannot enforce federal laws.

- Jim
Think maybe they could hold you until feds could be contacted? I can't imagine that actually happening unless you really peeved the LEO though.

I agree. Local cops enforce state and local laws, except in VERY rare instances. To nail someone for unlawful possession in the parking lot (if it is even a true violation to begin with) the local cop would have to contact some federal authority (post office police?) and hand you over to them.

Who wants to fill out the forms for that?

I'm guessing here, but unless a local cop puts the grab on Osama bin Laden or something, they mostly let the feds enforce their own laws.

LedJedi wrote: You know, I went to one of those mail-n-more places the other day to mail a package. I did a 30.06 scan, but never occurred to me that they might be considered an official post office. Think that's over the limit? They to accept mail though.

Those places are private businesses. They are not post office property, federal property, or anything like that. If there's no 30.06 sign, you're good to go.

Point of fact, these days I do just about all of my post office business at places like that, for that very reason.

LedJedi wrote: Personally, i generally consider any federal place off limits and make it a practice to lock the gun in my car before going inside. Not sure about the parking lot thing. That may be the letter of the law (i know it's debatable) but that seems like it's pushing it.

Parking lots are generally OK in TX unless posted, and very few are. Federal property can fall into what (for me) is a "gray area", only because it can be off limits under federal law even though it isn't posted as TX would require (as it is not subject to the TX laws).

But I normally will just lock the gun in the car and go about my business unless I see some kind of sign that makes me think they really, really mean it.

LedJedi wrote: anyway, on to my question. For those folks that leave it in the car, do you ever worry about being seen moving the fun from your locked box to your holster again. We've got dark tint on the windows, but i'm still a bit paranoid about that. Anyone come up with a good solution?

I have no problems with this. I carry in IWB holsters. I use holsters that easily slip on or off the belt. One has a metal clip while the other has a strap with two snaps. With practice, I have taught myself to easily slip a holster on or off while driving. (Please! It's no different than dialing a cell phone! Honest!) So I just take care to do it when there's no traffic around that is high enough to see inside my pickup. The gun and holster go into the glovebox.

It seems to work for me.

lrb111 · Post by **lrb111** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:46 pm

seamusTX wrote:City police cannot enforce federal laws.

- Jim

Which brings the next question,,, If it really is illegal to carry in a P.O., and you get made, who does the arresting? Postal Inspector? Federal marshalls? Federally certified local LEOs?
I really wouldn't be able to say.

LedJedi · Post by **LedJedi** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:39 pm

lrb111 wrote:
seamusTX wrote:City police cannot enforce federal laws.

- Jim
Which brings the next question,,, If it really is illegal to carry in a P.O., and you get made, who does the arresting? Postal Inspector? Federal marshalls? Federally certified local LEOs?
I really wouldn't be able to say.

I looked this up on google...

so it MUST be true.

These guys come and arrest you.

lrb111 · Post by **lrb111** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:35 am

That must be why I can't remember..........

Photoman · Post by **Photoman** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:55 am

It is legal, under certain circumstances, to mail firearms.

NcongruNt · Post by **NcongruNt** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:51 am

Photoman wrote:It is legal, under certain circumstances, to mail firearms.

I believe, under those specific circumstances, the possession a firearm in order to mail it would b e categorized under "other lawful purposes".

seamusTX · Post by **seamusTX** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:19 am

lrb111 wrote:Which brings the next question,,, If it really is illegal to carry in a P.O., and you get made, who does the arresting? Postal Inspector? Federal marshalls? Federally certified local LEOs?

I don't know.

I have never heard of someone being arrested for carrying a weapon in the publicly accessible area of a post office.

Normally, when local authorities suspect someone has violated a federal law, they inform the FBI or U.S. attorney; and the feds investigate from there. Most of these suspects are already in custody for violating state laws (bank robbery, drug dealing, etc.).

- Jim

KBCraig · Post by **KBCraig** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:49 pm

Please, everyone: erase "other lawful purposes" from your mind when discussing the Post Office! That phrase comes from 18 USC 930, which does not apply to USPS property.

Neither the ban nor its exceptions apply on USPS property. Weapons on USPS property are covered by a Rule in the CFR, and violation has a maximum penalty of a $50 fine and/or 30 days in jail.