‘Deliver mail, not handguns’: Rep. Tokuda joins push to block USPS proposal

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, D, Hawaii, and are urging the U.S. Postal Service to withdraw a proposed rule that would expand the types of firearms allowed to be mailed through the postal system.

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Tokuda joined Rep. Mike Thompson of California last month in introducing the Keep Illegal Handguns Out of the Mail Act, which would prohibit USPS from implementing or enforcing the proposal.

Democrats opposing the rule argue it could weaken existing gun safety laws and increase the risk of handguns falling into the wrong hands.

“The Postal Service, the whole mission is to deliver mail, not handguns,” Tokuda said.

Tokuda said many lawmakers were alarmed by the proposal, which she described as an attempt to bypass Congress.

“I think many of us were absolutely appalled when we heard about the circumventing of a literally century-old law that was trying to keep the mail safe,” Tokuda said, “without having handguns traveling back and forth, potentially unlicensed, getting into the wrong hands.”

The proposal Tokuda is referring to was introduced by USPS in April and would expand the types of firearms that can be shipped through the mail.

Currently, the Postal Service allows certain long guns, including rifles and shotguns, to be mailed under federal regulations. The proposed rule would allow handguns to be shipped through USPS as well.

Supporters of the rule say it would not change existing firearm purchasing or transfer laws.

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At BNR Tactical in Kalihi, owner Brent Hamasaki said the proposal likely would not significantly impact how firearms are bought or transferred because federal laws would still apply.

“We still got to go through our permit process,” Hamasaki said. “By federal law, we still have to ship it FFL (federal firearms license) to FFL, dealer to dealer. We cannot ship direct door to door … so there really isn’t any change.”

Hamasaki said handguns are already shipped regularly through private carriers such as UPS and FedEx, and the proposal would simply give USPS another legal shipping option.

“They’ve been allowed to ship long guns, which is rifle and shotgun, all this time,” Hamasaki said. “And so they’re adding one more type of firearm, handgun, to that list.”

He added that firearms are shipped unloaded and secured before transport.

Hamasaki also said allowing USPS to ship handguns could lower shipping costs for gun stores and customers.

“USPS is a very good program with their one-rate boxes,” he said. “It’ll save customers, shops like us, some money.”

The public comment period on the proposal ended in May. USPS says it is now reviewing public feedback.

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