HR 3033119th CongressIn Committee

Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act

Introduced: Apr 28, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act would repeal the statutory provision that currently restricts mailing certain firearms and related items, and would shield USPS rules from imposing new burdens on mailing firearms, ammunition, or their components. Specifically, it repeals 18 U.S.C. 1715 (the provision titled “Concealable Firearms Mailable”) and directs that this repeal apply to prosecutions pending at the time of enactment. It also bars the Postmaster General from issuing USPS rules that (a) prohibit or significantly hinder mailing firearms, ammunition, or components, or (b) require the disclosure of sales receipts, firearms transaction records, customer records kept by federal firearms licensees (FFLs) or ammunition sellers, or the serial numbers of firearms in mail shipments. Overall, the bill aims to facilitate and protect interstate shipment of firearms and related items via mail.

Key Points

1Repeals 18 U.S.C. 1715 (Concealable Firearms Mailable), removing a longstanding federal prohibition on mailing certain concealable firearms.
2Applies repeal to cases pending on enactment date (including appeals), ensuring ongoing prosecutions under the old law are resolved under the new framework.
3Amends the U.S. Code table of sections to remove the entry for section 1715 from the chapter on firearms, effectively eliminating the prohibition in the statute.
4Prohibits USPS rulemaking that would prohibit or materially impede mailing firearms, ammunition, or components via the mail.
5Prohibits USPS rulemaking that would require disclosure of sales receipts, firearms transaction records, or other customer records held by FFLs or ammunition sellers, or the disclosure of serial numbers in mail shipments.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Individuals and businesses engaged in interstate shipment of firearms, ammunition, and components, including gun owners, retailers, and ammunition sellers who rely on mailing as a distribution or transfer method.Secondary group/area affected- Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) and ammunition sellers, due to the potential change in what information they must or must not disclose in mail shipments.Additional impacts- Law enforcement and regulatory landscape: with the removal of the 1715 prohibition and restrictions on USPS rulemaking, federal rules governing mail shipments of firearms could shift, potentially altering traceability and oversight dynamics.- Public safety and consumer protection considerations: moving toward less USPS-imposed paperwork or serial-number disclosures may affect accountability and traceability in firearm shipments; stakeholders may raise concerns about illicit shipments and enforcement.- Interagency coordination: changes may interact with other federal gun laws and enforcement mechanisms, possibly prompting guidance or updates from related agencies (e.g., ATF) to address compliance and safety.

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