UPS now Requires a Preprinted Label to Ship Firearms

[Jim McKee]

My local UPS terminal told me Friday that I cannot ship a firearm unless I now have a pre-printed shipping label- even if it is being shipped directly to an FFL holder. In the past when I sold one of my used firearms I could ship to the buyer's FFL holder with no problems.
I asked why this is now required- the answer was several Senators put a stop to shipping because of "ghost" guns.
The senators?
Jim

[todd allen]

Well, that oughta put an end to gun crimes!
;-)

[edgarspencer]

Any time I ship a gun, such as last Friday, I go directly to the UPS terminal at the Hartford/Springfield airport, and print my own label.

[Mills Morrison]

Our local UPS requires all guns be shipped from the main terminal which is in the most inconvenient part of the whole county. Stupid

[Jim McKee]

The Zanesville terminal UPS folks did not offer that. They said someone with a UPS account would need to print a shipping label
This also includes gun parts??
I will again check Tuesday
Jim

[David A Slade]

I use the Post Office. Cheaper and I can insure it.

[Frank Cronin]

The last time I shipped UPS, they wanted a copy of the FFL document to prove the address was to a FFL holder. What does it say on their UPS website?

[Mike Franzen]

They can’t completely legislate gun control so they are going to try and regulate and impede any and all gun commerce. Do you think the criminals care about what they do?

[Mills Morrison]

They say gun control is about safety and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. But the laws and regulations are nothing more than an assault on law abiding gun owners which do nothing to promote safety or stop criminals.

[Craig Larter]

I got a FedEx account and print my own labels of my home printer, easy as pie and the rates are cheaper than what you get at the FedEx store or drop off point. It also allows you to redirect signature required packages to a local FedEx store. Easy no questions asked.

[CraigThompson]

We do our own UPS and the driver stops by and picks up . But we’ve got an FFL and a store front .

[John Allen]

This is all done to force you to get an account with either UPS or Fedex so all your shipments will have a record that ATF can check. If they feel you are shipping too many guns they will force you to get an ffl or quit shipping. The post office will still accept a gun from an individual as long as it is going to an ffl. You will have to show them a copy of the ffl and most dealers will not send out copies to non ffl holders. As mentioned earlier, defacto gun control.

[Stan Hillis]

I'm ignorant I guess, but how did anyone ever ship a gun without a pre-printed label anyway? Every gun I ever shipped I took to a UPS shipper, who was also an FFL holder. They weighed it, printed out everything to put on the package, I paid them, and UPS picked it up next time around.

[Russ Jackson]

I'm ignorant I guess, but how did anyone ever ship a gun without a pre-printed label anyway? Every gun I ever shipped I took to a UPS shipper, who was also an FFL holder. They weighed it, printed out everything to put on the package, I paid them, and UPS picked it up next time around.

I'm in the same boat Stan with the exception , our local UPS Pickup is not an FFL as far as I know ,I would give them my package ,they would weight it ,print a label ,put the label on it ,I would pay the shipping costs and the next UPS driver showed up he took the package ! No problems ,has this arrangement changed ???

[John Allen]

Up until last week,an individual could take a gun to UPS and they would accept it as long as you confirmed it was going to an ffl. Now they will not accept any gun or gun parts unless you have an account set up with them. They will not take a gun from an ffl unless he has an account with them. Fedex has a similar policy. Fedex recently confiscated some guns that were not declared as guns when they were shipped.

[Larry Stauch]

Up until last week,an individual could take a gun to UPS and they would accept it as long as you confirmed it was going to an ffl. Now they will not accept any gun or gun parts unless you have an account set up with them. They will not take a gun from an ffl unless he has an account with them. Fedex has a similar policy. Fedex recently confiscated some guns that were not declared as guns when they were shipped.

Interesting, because when UPS wouldn't take my shipment of a Perazzi yesterday I went to FedEx. They didn't ask anything about what was in the package and none of their check boxes ask that question either. Although, I did show them the FFL for the address. Even after that did the clerk ask what was in the box, so I don't know how they classified it. I do know it was just short of $200 to send it. And I do have an account at UPS. I know they did no training on their new policy because the clerks have no idea of what to do or how to do it. Even when you call in they have no idea and have to put you on hold to ask others what to do. What a mess...

[John Allen]

I discussed it with a UPS rep yesterday. He said the new policy is in response to unserialized "ghost guns" being shipped individual to individual bypassing FFLs. Both fedex and UPS have found undeclared guns in shipments. I guess they must run them through scanners like at the airports. The post office will still take a gun if you show them a copy of the receiving ffl. The problem is most ffl holders will not send out a copy of their license to a non ffl.

[Mike Koneski]

I take any packages to my local UPS shipper at a hardware store. They measure the package and weigh it, print the label, give me a tracking # and off I go to pay at the sales counter. They don't ask what is in the package. I always purchase insurance to cover the cost of the item. We'll see what happens next time I need to make a shipment.

[Victor Wasylyna]

I’m a bit surprised so many folks on this thread tell these couriers what they have in their sealed packages. I do not recall ever being asked by FedEx or UPS, and if I was, “mechanical apparatus” was enough said. Flag your package as a firearm and you are just asking for a lost/theft claim.

-Victor

[John Allen]

If you don't tell them it is a gun and they find that it is,you will lose your gun. Both UPS and Fedex have confiscated guns and turned them in to the ATF. The UPS rep showed me the internal email they all got this past Monday. They are not allowed to take guns or gun parts from anyone who does not have a UPS account. All guns have to be declared and shipped to an FFL.

[CraigThompson]

If you don't tell them it is a gun and they find that it is,you will lose your gun. Both UPS and Fedex have confiscated guns and turned them in to the ATF. The UPS rep showed me the internal email they all got this past Monday. They are not allowed to take guns or gun parts from anyone who does not have a UPS account. All guns have to be declared and shipped to an FFL.

The non FFL people in central VA that handle UPS have been asking customers if they’re shipping a gun and if they say yes or none ya buisness they decline , actually they’ve been doing that around here for perhaps two years . We’ve been told that UPS insurance would not cover breakage or loss of a gun unless it went FFL to FFL .

[John Allen]

Goggle "UPS gun shipment policy" it is pretty straight foreward. They will only accept guns from ffl holders that have an account with UPS. This went into effect this past Monday.

[Phillip Carr]

Wow this came out of left field at least for most of us.
I guess USPS is the only option, or use and pay for an FFL.
What about ammo? Same thing?

[tom tutwiler]

I discussed it with a UPS rep yesterday. He said the new policy is in response to unserialized "ghost guns" being shipped individual to individual bypassing FFLs. Both fedex and UPS have found undeclared guns in shipments. I guess they must run them through scanners like at the airports. The post office will still take a gun if you show them a copy of the receiving ffl. The problem is most ffl holders will not send out a copy of their license to a non ffl.
I ship through USPS all the time. Have never been asked to show the receiving dealers FFL. Unless the rules changed in the last 2 weeks it's not an issue with a long gun.

These are the current USPS rules and worth printing out and taking to show the folks at USPS if there is an issue :


432.3 Rifles and Shotguns
Except under 431.2, unloaded rifles and shotguns are mailable. Mailers must comply with the rules and regulations under 27 CFR, Part 478, 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 rifle or shotgun is unloaded and not ineligible for mailing. The following conditions also apply:

Subject to state, territory, or district regulations, rifles and shotguns may be mailed without restriction when intended for delivery within the same state of mailing. These items must:
Bear a “Return Service Requested” endorsement.
Be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.
A rifle or shotgun owned by a non-FFL may be mailed outside the owner‘s state of residence by the owner to himself or herself, in care of another person in the other state where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. These mailpieces must:
Be addressed to the owner.
Include the “in the care of” endorsement immediately preceding the name of the applicable temporary custodian.
Be opened by the rifle or shotgun owner only.
Be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.
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.
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.

[Stan Hillis]

Up until last week,an individual could take a gun to UPS and they would accept it as long as you confirmed it was going to an ffl. Now they will not accept any gun or gun parts unless you have an account set up with them. They will not take a gun from an ffl unless he has an account with them. Fedex has a similar policy. Fedex recently confiscated some guns that were not declared as guns when they were shipped.

So, for me, nothing has changed at all. Sorry for those of you that WILL be inconvenienced, though.

[John Allen]

I tried to ship a gun yesterday through the post office. It was going to an ffl but he would not send a copy of his license. The post office would not accept the gun unless they saw a copy of the receiving ffl. Just more bureaucratic nonsense.

[Larry Stauch]

The UPS hub people tell me that the policy went into affect on August 22nd.
This sounds like a board of director's policy change to me. You know the corporate creeps at the top that domino to every new and weird social movement out there. Here's the sign they have posted on the window at the hub. But, like I said before when you call this number they do not know what to do either. This WILL stop gun violence; target the people who have nothing to do with it. As far as ghost guns go, that's an ATF issue and all UPS would have to do is turn those people over to the AFT and eliminate that group, so I'm not buying that either. But, I'm sure the guy had to say something to appease your inquiry. It will be interesting to see if they come out with an official statement as to why they did this.
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[scott kittredge]

Why do you have to tell usps its a gun in the box, they never ask me what was in it when i ship a gun. I do ship to ffl dealers only when i ship and always use usps.
Scott

[Brian Dudley]

I hear about all of this so often. And I just done get it. Process the shipment online, put the label on the box and drop it off. Simple. No questions asked, no need to give an answer.

[John Allen]

Nothing much changes for an FFL holder. This will force non ffls to either go through the postal service or pay an ffl for use of his license. If a non ffl just prints out a label and ships a gun without declaring it the gun will be confiscated if it is found. This has already happened with both UPS and Fedex. This also applies to parts such as barrels and trigger assemblies.

[Bob Jurewicz]

https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/shipping-support/shipping-special-care-regulated-items/prohibited-items/firearms.page
Here is the full UPS Gun Shipping Policy.

Bob Jurewicz

[CraigThompson]

I tried to ship a gun yesterday through the post office. It was going to an ffl but he would not send a copy of his license. The post office would not accept the gun unless they saw a copy of the receiving ffl. Just more bureaucratic nonsense.

I run into the dealer I’m sending to not wanting to send their FFL with their funds from time to time . I’ve had several that wanted to see ours before they’d show me theirs . I tell them you’ll recieve a copy of ours in the box with the gun and you won’t recieve the gun if you don’t email me theirs or send a paper copy with their funds . 99% of the time they comply after I say that . Some dealers without a doubt have become super anal about sending their license .

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Every day something new to put a thumb on us so to speak, It seems as though our elected officials just turn a blind eye to all that is happening in this country. This is America not a third world country! Gary

[Arthur Shaffer]

Just ran into another related issue on Monday. I recieved a Martini Cadet from a Texas dealer who transferred to my C&R. I purchased the gun on GunBroker. Delivered by FedEx. He of course shipped with Signature Required. When I was getting ready to sign the scanner, he told me he needed to scan my Driver's License. I was taken aback, having never been asked this before. I asked him why and he said they had to scan the license before he could accept the signature. I asked him why and was told they were required to for "certain items". I asked which items and was told he was simply told which packages needed scans. I ask him how he knew what was in the package and he claimed he didn't, just that the system required him to scan.

This is reaching an insane level of intrusion. Many people in our (and other) states don't have the new secure licenses. However, in this day and age of data theft, I am required to allow a shipping company to scan a government ID that is tied to all sorts of sensitive information.This is within a state that specifically regulated access to the fact I even owned a gun and had a permit to carry it. They will not allow that information to be released to anyone except a law enforcement officer in the persuit of his job. Fedex now has a digital record of the fact I own a gun, where I got it, the insured value, my address and any and all other information that can be obtained via a data hack.

I guess this is something we must learn to accept. It will be worth it to catch all the killers, rapists and terrorists who are buying their expensive 150 year old antique black powder single shot hammer guns for use in heinous crimes.

The whole ghost gun issue is ridiculous. They are entirely legal and allowed for under the gun control act. The totality of the law introduced a flaw at the point of loss of ownership. Regardless, the legally built personal guns have nothing to do with the problem of cartels obtaining the castings and manufacturing assault rifles by the truckload. The government is naive (once again) if they think the billion dollar cartels can't build a cheap casting shop (likely with no air pollution controls!!) in Mexico and in a few days make a years supply of castings for their shop, or simply force a CNC shop owner to make them 10,000 actions. I buy championship quality recievers from a shop on a farm in the woods 30 miles from my house. If they can do it, so can a Mexican cartel.

[John Allen]

I just had an interesting experience this morning. I took a Marlin rifle that I sold on GI to the Belle Meade post office in Nashville to ship to the FFL who bought it. The attendant on duty refused to take the gun. He said it was illegal for me to ship it. I showed him the copy of the ffl and quoted the law to him,but he would not take it. Rather than fight with an idiot,I took it to another post office who took it with no problem. Very frustrating!

[Mills Morrison]

There is the actual law and then the law imagined by people at the post office, UPS, etc. Arguing with them is futile

[Larry Stauch]

I just had an interesting experience this morning. I took a Marlin rifle that I sold on GI to the Belle Meade post office in Nashville to ship to the FFL who bought it. The attendant on duty refused to take the gun. He said it was illegal for me to ship it. I showed him the copy of the ffl and quoted the law to him,but he would not take it. Rather than fight with an idiot,I took it to another post office who took it with no problem. Very frustrating!

When that happens to me, I typically ask to speak with their supervisor. They usually roll over or the supervisor comes out and straightens it out. The amount of incompetency in the world today is startling. But this is what happens when we lower our education standards to the dumbest person in the room so everybody can "FEEL" good about themselves.

[tom tutwiler]

Every time I've sold and shipped that gun, I've had to have the receivers FFL in my hand prior to shipping said gun. It's send to my email account digitally. I download a copy for my records. PS. I don't have an FFL. In a few cases the receiving dealer has requested it come from an FFL and if he does I tell the buyer he is paying for that additional service. It normally works out. PS. I used to ship via UPS but it was a PIA and so I ship USPS only. I've never been asked what was in the box other then declaring that it wasn't and explosive, liquid etc etc. Guess I will find out soon as I'll be shipping a gun to my stock guy in the next few weeks.

[John Allen]

I have been told by the postal folks that if the gun is not declared as a gun when it is turned over to them the insurance will not pay if it is lost or damaged. I always tell them what it is when I hand it over. All guns go priority mail which requires a signature on delivery. It costs more,but covers you if something goes wrong.

[Buddy Marson]

Assuming the stock guy doesn't have an FFL please let us know how this transaction works out for you.
Thanks!

[tom tutwiler]

Assuming the stock guy doesn't have an FFL please let us know how this transaction works out for you.
Thanks!

He has an FFL. I think all stock guys do. I think they are in the Gunsmithing category and all gunsmiths have to have an FFL. Ditto for engravers. They have to have an FFL also and log the firearms into their books in case the feds come knocking on the door. PS. I know a few guys who refinish stocks on the side. They don't have an FFL, because they only receive wood and not the metal work.