A judge recently ruled on a request to limit an order concerning possession of firearms on USPS property. What does the Postal Service have to say in light of the ruling?
A U.S. district court judge denied a request from the Department of Justice seeking the limitation in the scope of a ruling in Firearms Policy Coalition v. Bondi. Reported last week Judge Reed O’Connor delivered an order on who the past ruling applies to at this juncture of the case. His prior ruling struck down prohibitions on the possession of firearms on some United States Postal Service properties. The recent clarification noted relief is to be given to all members of the organizational plaintiffs while they’re a member. The USPS was reached for comment and their reply echoes past statements.
The DOJ was seeking a limitation on the ruling and organizational plaintiffs Firearms Policy Coalition and Second Amendment Foundation pushed back with their own filings. O’Connor’s opinion eviscerated the DOJ’s request and delivered as broad an opinion that one could expect to receive at this stage of litigation. O’Connor did acquiesce to the government’s request for clarification.
“Based on the foregoing, the Court GRANTS in part Defendant’s Motion and clarifies its Order and Final Judgment as follows: The permanent injunction as set forth in the Court’s Order (ECF No. 35) and Final Judgment (ECF No. 36) applies to Plaintiffs and to all present and future members of Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc. and Second Amendment Foundation,” O’Connor wrote.
“This is a huge win for current and future SAF members nationwide,” said Second Amendment Foundation Executive Director Adam Kraut. “There was never a constitutional justification to disarm people who simply need to go to the post office. Despite the government’s attempt to continue to enforce this unconstitutional law against as many people as possible, the court today followed the law and confirmed that all current and future SAF members are covered by the injunction against the enforcement of this ban. If you’re not already, this is a great time to become a SAF member.”
“We are delighted that the law and common-sense prevailed in this important fight to secure the right to carry throughout the United States,” said Firearms Policy Coalition President Brandon Combs. “The Trump Administration should stop trying to redline the Constitution and end their war on appropriate judicial relief.”
Since the first ruling on this case going back to the fall of 2025, the United States Postal Service has been mum. Bearing Arms has solicited comments from the USPS at every step of the way on this case and each and every time they’ve returned the same comment.
“Please refer to our below response provided to you on 10.8.2025,” USPS Sr. Public Relations Representative Felicia Lott said in a Mar. 20 email. “USPS has no further comment.”
That first response was as follows:
The Postal Service is aware of the recent decision by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas regarding the ban on firearms possession on postal property, which enjoins enforcement of the ban at certain Post Offices, and the surrounding Post Office property, with respect to certain postal customers. The Postal Service is currently analyzing the court’s decision and taking necessary steps to implement the injunction.
No guns allowed signs are still posted in post offices across the country. Several anecdotal accounts via social media and email note that many postal workers are unaware of the ruling and that the carriage of firearms by some people at some locations is no longer prohibited.
In November, Bearing Arms obtained a leaked internal document via a reddit post. The document was guidance that was allegedly sent to all USPS locations and postmasters. The USPS did confirm the authenticity of that guidance letter.
The document states the following:
A federal court order currently permits certain postal customers to carry and possess firearms at most Post Offices, including in customer parking lots. In response to that decision, and while we work to clarify the precise scope of the court’s order, we are providing the following guidance to all our retail employees at all Postal Service retail facilities, regarding all of our customers at those facilities.
Because of this decision, there may be instances in which members of the public who are visiting Postal Service retail facilities to pick up their mail, or conduct a retail transaction, will be carrying firearms. Postal Service Employees are directed to refrain from confronting or engaging with the customer about the fact that they are carrying a firearm.
Postal Service employees should allow the customer to conduct their business in the same manner as other customers. Once the customer leaves, immediately report the matter to your supervisor or manager.
Management employees should immediately call the Inspection Service hotline at 1-877-876-2455. The Inspection Service will determine whether the ban on firearms possession can lawfully be enforced under the circumstances, and whether further action is justified. Calls to local enforcement (911) should only be made if the person is interfering with operations or if the customer is acting in a manner that raises immediate safety or security concerns.
The court’s decision does not affect the ban on firearms possession by Postal Service employees on postal property, which remains fully in place. Employees are reminded that carrying or storing firearms on Postal Service property is prohibited and can result in discipline, up to and including removal from the Postal Service. The prohibition on employee possession of firearms also means that storing firearms in vehicles that are parked on postal property is also prohibited.
Thank you for your attention.
Since the original district court opinion the case was appealed to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals by the DOJ. In January they requested a stay pending an opinion in the U.S. Supreme Court Cases Wolford v. Lopez and United States v. Hemani. That request was denied.
Regardless of the future status of this conflict, the USPS should send out a more robust, public, and above-the-fold series of communications on the status of firearms possession on some USPS properties. Or the DOJ could commit to not enforcing the law at all until there’s final ruling after all appeals processes have been exhausted.
“The truly shocking thing here is that even after a United States District Judge declared this law unconstitutional, the government responded by saying ‘yeah but we want to continue enforcing it against almost everyone,’” said Second Amendment Foundation founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “We are heartened by today’s ruling and that the court was not persuaded by the government’s argument. Applying the injunction to all current and future SAF members is consistent with well-settled case law and being included in injunctions like these are one of the best reasons to be a SAF member.”
Cam Edwards also explained the real world implications of the current order and status of the case. He surmised too that current members of Firearms Policy Coalition and Second Amendment Foundation would be covered by the injunction.
“I would suggest having something identifying you as a member if you do so, though,” Edwards warned, “and be prepared to explain the contours of the lawsuit and Judge O’Connor’s decisions to those public-facing employees who have no idea that the injunction is in place.”
How the case will fair at the circuit court is not known. The fact the Fifth Circuit denied the stay request might be a promising sign. Best case scenario might be a per curiam opinion from the court or plaintiffs entering into a stipulated judgment with the government. In the meantime, it might be best to check with your attorney before you carry at your post office and make sure you’re a current member of the Second Amendment Foundation and/or Firearms Policy Coalition.
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