I am a contract negotiator, as well as postal worker. I have been a concealed carry citizen since I was old enough to do so. I often go to concealed carry sites and almost always find a thread that begs the question "can you carry in a post office?" The answer is NO. Not only is it against the law to have it IN the office, it is also against the law to have it on the grounds. Leaving a firearm in your glove box, under your seat, or even emptied and locked up in a secured biometric gun safe locked in the trunk of your car is ILLEGAL. It can result in fines and/or incarceration of up to 1 year. 18 USC 930 (d) (3) is what most people try to argue this fact with, as it states, " the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes." People state that by have a licensed permit to carry concealed, they are conducting their possession as "other lawful purpose."
However,
39 USC 410 EXEMPTS post offices from 18 USC 930 since it is a federal facility. 39 USC 410 specifically excludes 18 USC 930 from applying to the Postal Service Authority. In addition, 39 CFR 232.1 clearly states "Weapons and explosives. No person while on postal property may carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, or store the same on postal property, except for official purposes."
This means not only is it Illegal to have them on your person, it is also illegal to have it in your car OUTSIDE. An earlier thread post stated that a man would just remain outside while his wife took the mail into the office to mail. The second his vehicle crosses the threshold of postal property, regardless of where he stands or his intent, he is automatically in violation of federal law. In addition, the US Postal Service has explicit right to search any person or vehicle on postal property at any time.
If someone is SUSPECT of having a gun in his CAR...and postal inspectors arrive....they have the right to detain the car, and search. All this is granted the US Postal Inspection Service. IN ADDITION, THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS ONE OF ONLY A FEW GOVERNMENT BRANCHES THAT HAS THE EXPLICIT AUTHORITY TO INCARCERATE FOR POSTAL CRIMES.
In addition, I have read in other threads such things as what if the sign is not "conspicuously displayed" or if the office is rented or leased. Failure to have the sign "conspicuously displayed" may only give you a defense against long term incarceration. keep in mind that federal bulletin boards INSIDE the postal facility are still considered CONSPICUOUS. If you were discovered to have a concealed weapon on postal property and the authorities are notified, they will, citing federal statue, handcuff you and take you to jail. Rented or leased property that is leased by the federal government is also enforced by the same rights and laws as owned federal property as it is government controlled by the contract signed with the USPS.
If you go to a place like your local hardware store, and it has a post office in the back, then carrying a firearm into a facility in which USPS is operating makes that place also protected by the same regulations.....therefore making it illegal to carry into that facility as well.
There are few things I tell people NOT to do when it comes to the post office. As a union steward and mail carrier, I find that I am often best served by questioning everything. But in all seriousness.....as unfair as it is......as seemingly unconstitutional as it may be.....do NOT pull into the parking lot of a post office....sign or no sign......rented or not.....etc....with a firearm in your possession.
Finally...one of the best explanations of the application of these regulations was on a michigan message board. I have enclosed the link below.
If you read sites that state "official purpose" is a way to challenge it, investigate further. You will find that 39 CFR 232.1 supercedes 18 USC 930 and gives all authority to the Post Office....and closes any possibility of a loophole ever existing.
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/Concealed-carry-in-a-post-office-may-lead-to-rude-awakening
