amzbrady wrote:
Hey look, you can teach an old fart new tricks. I never new or have seen posted here before, that you can carry without cpl in vehicle if not 1 in pipe, and unloaded, (I'm hammerless). Now heres a $2.95 question, how about post offices. Post offices by the way are my pet peeve. A government building does not provide lock boxes, no reason to not be able to carry, espesially when they are closed. RCW 9.41.300 does not state anything specifically about the post office, (that I see, but then I am tired and I need to get some forehead specs like Deros has, speaking of which are those for him to put down and look out of or are those there,for us to look in?). :lol:
I did find this on a blog and found it quite curious. Note: D3
http://rlwesquire.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/question-about-concealed-carry-in-a-post-office/
Edited -correct term- Federal building, sorry
The sign answers your questions. Firearms possession and storage on postal property is prohibited and illegal according to 39 CFR 232.1. CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations and is a form of Federal law. The only exception is "for official purpose". For official purpose means either 1. To actually mail a firearm or 2. You carry a firearm as part of some official duty such as law enforcement or military issued firearm (highly unlikely). There is no exception made for ordinary Joe Citizen to carry his firearm in any way, shape or form; open or concealed; loaded or unloaded for the purpose of self defense. It is also illegal to store your firearm in your vehicle parked on postal property.
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=9219c84a799dc05088c85ea1f52c54a5&rgn=div8&view=text&node=39:1.0.1.4.21.0.1.1&idno=39
§ 232.1 Conduct on postal property. (a) Applicability. This section applies to all real property under the charge and control of the Postal Service, to all tenant agencies, and to all persons entering in or on such property. This section shall be posted and kept posted at a conspicuous place on all such property.
(l) Weapons and explosives . Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule or regulation, 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.
18 USC 930 - USC stands for United States Code and is actual Federal statute enacted by Congress - is merely mentioned as a sentence enhancer if you commit a crime with a firearm on post office property. 39 CFR 232.1 has it's own enforcement and sentencing provision for the possession part, and 18 USC 930 carries a much greater sentence for a crime committed with a firearm.
Don't try to use the "for other lawful purpose" exception of 18 USC 930 to carry at the post office, that won't get you past the prohibition contained in 39 CFR 232.1.
The only highly publicized case of a violation of 39 CFR 232.1 being prosecuted was an actual employee with a firearm in his vehicle within the restricted area of the post office property. If you want to be the test case for Joe Citizen carrying at the post office under what you feel to be an exception to the law, go right ahead!
Any kind of exception that a website or web lawyer will tell you exists to allow you to carry your firearm as average Joe Citizen at the Post Office is B.S. and unproven opinion with no case law to back it up.
