So I recently sold a bolt action rifle to another Florida resident, but UPS and FedEx are telling me that their new policy states that they will only ship a firearm to a dealer or manufacturer…not to an individual. It’s been years since I’ve shipped a firearm to an individual, and I used to not have any problems with it. Does anyone know of a carrier that will ship this rifle for me, or is there is away to get around this? Thanks.
They’re mistaken, at least UPS is. UPS will ship any long-arm as long as long it’s shipped from a customer service center or hub (UPS stores and small commercial counters don’t). Handguns can only be shipped from FFL to FFL.
I’m pretty sure intra-state shipping from one individual to another is legal, but that doesn’t mean that UPS or FedEx has to allow that in their policies. Try the Post Office.
That’s odd. I called the 800 customer service number for UPS. The lady put me on hold while she talked to her supervisor and she told me that even the hub would not ship a rifle from resident to resident.
just ship it USPS
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/guidelines/firearms.html
Quote:
“UPS accepts packages containing firearms, as defined by Title 18, Chapter 44, and Title 26, Chapter 53 of the United States Code, for transportation from and between licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, and licensed collectors, as defined in Title 18, Chapter 44 of the United States Code, law enforcement agencies of the United States (or of any department or agency of the United States) and law enforcement agencies of any state or department agency (or political subdivision of any state), and from and between persons not otherwise prohibited from shipping firearms by federal, state or local law and when such shipment complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws applicable to the shipper, recipient and package.”
I’m not a lawyer, but to the best of my knowledge, you CAN ship a rifle from buyer to seller within the same state (provided the buyer can legally own a gun). An FFL is ONLY required when crossing state lines.
The girl on the phone stating you couldn’t is just an average person who doesn’t understand the law.
Provided I’m correct (someone tell me if I’m not), just pack the gun up REALLY well (take it to a UPS store - they won’t ship it but they WILL pack it nicely for you for about $10), then drop it off at UPS. If you have to insure it, do so under a vague name (e.g. instead of saying “rifle” state it’s a “Aluminum BCM 16” - technically correct) and ship it. No laws have been broken and you get to ship the gun in accordance to UPS rules and regulations. Interestingly enough, UPS does not require that rifles be declared as firearms when shipped - only handguns.
The only thing I’d be cautious about is ensuring the person you’re shipping to CAN legally possess a firearm. If not, it can come back to bite you since you not only sold to someone who can’t legally possess a firearm, but you shipped a firearm to said person, breaking more federal laws.
I shipped a rifle to an FFL last week via UPS. I had zero problems.
I think the OP is talking about shipping from a non-ffl to another non-ffl. As far as shipping firearms to an FFL through UPS I’ve done it a few times but had to go to the hub. The franchised “UPS Store” won’t accept firearms regardless.
My apologies. Read this too quick today. :help:
I shipped a firearm via UPS to an M4C member here recently. However, I was sending it to his FFL. It is my understanding that shipping to someone outside of your state requires the transaction to go to an FFL.
USPS and you are done.
Legal and permitted by their rules and regs.
Buckaroo
I tried USPS too…same thing.
Doesn’t Federal law require that firearms be declared when shipped?
Edit: Found this on Gunbroker’s Website on Shipping:
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by carrier to a resident of his or her own state or to a licensee in any state. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm. [18 U. S. C. 922( a)( 2)( A) and 922( e), 27 CFR 178.31]
Again, use a vague description that is technically the name of the firearm. Descriptive enough to cover yourself, but nothing more. Nothing’s worse than putting “AR-15 Assault Rifle” and having every UPS employee come over to the counter, debating if “assault rifles” are even legal to possess. There’s nothing illegal about shipping; it’s the ignorant employees who would deny you from legally shipping your rifle that you have to worry about.
I’ll try to avoid starting internet rumors or anything, but while that seems technically correct, I’d just call it what it is (firearm, then rifle when asked what type) and go from there. The spirit of the law says to me that the intention is to let the carrier know you are shipping a firearm. A ‘BCM 16" Midlength’ means nothing to your average person.
Edit: Have you tried the FedEx stores, or the stores that ship FedEx in your area? I’ve had pretty good results working with them regarding what is legal in firearms shipping.
I am not sure this was the wisest thing to post here. For several reasons.
That’s what I’ve always done.
Print the UPS policy from their own website and also the USC that mentions that intrastate person to person shipping is legal and then go back to the UPS hub and show it to them. Escalate it all the way to the facility manager if you have to or passed that if need be. It sounds like complete ignorance on the UPS peoples’ part to me.
I guess I’ll have to try that option tomorrow. Hopefully it doesn’t turn into a pissing match. I’ll let you all know how it goes.
Try another usps locaion and/or call the post master explaining your situation before hand…other option is to work out a deal with the buyer to split the ffl fee which really should be no more than $25
good luck.