Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on May 6 that she has joined a coalition of 22 states in opposing a proposed rule by the United States Postal Service that would allow certain firearms to be mailed across state lines. The attorneys general argue this change could undermine longstanding federal gun laws and increase risks to public safety.
The group of attorneys general says the proposed USPS rule would make it easier for prohibited individuals, such as felons and domestic abusers, to obtain firearms through the mail. They also warn that allowing guns to be sent without going through licensed sellers could hinder law enforcement’s ability to trace weapons used in crimes and raise costs for investigations.
Nessel said, “The U.S. Postal Service should not be used as a loophole for criminals to bypass Michigan law and flood our streets with untraceable firearms. By illegally and unilaterally dismantling protections that have been in place for nearly 100 years, the Trump administration is making our communities less safe. I stand with my colleagues in opposing this absurd proposed rule.”
According to the coalition letter, federal law has barred mailing certain concealable firearms since 1927 without any court finding it invalid. However, an opinion issued by the Department of Justice in January declared this statute unconstitutional and directed USPS to change its regulations accordingly.
The letter further argues that unlike private carriers such as UPS, USPS does not have a statutory obligation to ensure packages comply with state firearm laws. This lack of oversight could create new challenges for state agencies tasked with tracking illegal or prohibited weapons.
Attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia Washington and the District of Columbia joined Nessel in signing the letter.
