The U.S. Postal Service policy banning people from bringing firearms into post offices violates the Constitution, a federal judge in Texas ruled Tuesday.
Judge Reed O’Connor, a Trump appointee, said both the Post Office’s own regulation and a federal law barring firearms possession in a “federal facility” cannot survive scrutiny after the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in the Bruen case. That ruling said that for firearms restrictions to stand, they must be consistent with what the founders who crafted the Second Amendment would have envisioned.
Judge O’Connor said post offices existed at the time of the founding. Lawmakers at the time made laws punishing attacks on mail carriers and postal facilities, but did not bar weapons themselves.
— Stephan Dinan in Judge rules USPS ban on guns is unconstitutional
Going to be interesting to see how this plays out not only at post offices, but other federally owned locations like federal buildings, military bases and national labs.
I am of the firm belief that disarmament policies caused the Fort Hood tragedy.
In Texas, Campus Carry has exceptions for laboratories and dorms. I’d assume courthouses and labs would not suddenly allow carry.
Federal courthouses, most definitely not. The specter of Woody Harrelson’s dad (a contract killer for the Chagra crime family) assassinating federal Judge “Maximum John” Wood a generation ago still resonates (that was led to metal detectors and private elevators for the judges at federal courthouses).
“Judge Reed O’Connor, a Trump appointee, said both the Post Office’s own regulation and a federal law barring firearms possession in a “federal facility” cannot survive scrutiny“
This will really be interesting, no age limit, no ban on carrying into federal facilities which obviously includes everything from courthouses, prison and detention facilities to alcohol and drug treatment facilities.
“disarmament policies caused the Fort Hood tragedy“
That’s more of an Army thing, firearms (with very rare exceptions) have been banned at any military facility, they’re kept in the arms room 24 hour guard/surveillance.
I do admit, a barracks full of armed Testosterone-rich 19 year-olds hitting up the beer machine will provide much entertainment on a Saturday night.
Gee Haw!
All the hand wringing you do miner I would not be surprised to find you had broken all your finger bones.
A father and a mother over 200 years ago educated their 12 year old children about guns. In fact it was expected that a 14 year old would carry a gun . On their way to school or to the family herd.
In fact in the 1940s 12 year old children carried machine guns. Real ones.
I’m pretty sure that detention facilities at the time of the Founding disarmed detainees, so I have to conclude you are arguing in bad faith.
“I’m pretty sure that detention facilities at the time of the Founding disarmed detainees,”
Actually, no.
Prisoners were frequently used to form hunting parties for game. Not the most violent ones, but many were and those were armed for hunting game to support the ‘detained’ population. And when they were released from detention, well, a shocker for today’s world would be they actually still had all their constitutional rights.
This very concept, the founding era concept that certain prisoners could be armed while in detention for purposes of hunting to support the ‘detained’ population, is the basis of what became the ‘trustee’ concept used in jails and even prisons today, a concept that also led to the idea of a ‘work release’ program for certain detainees.
Great news. I carry when I check my PO Box.
No way!!
I’m kinda surprised the Trump admin didn’t just throw in the towel on this one. But now I guess they can just refuse to appeal, and it’ll be over.
Unfortunately, this ruling ONLY applies to the named plaintiffs…meaning people who are active members of the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Second Amendment Foundation and the two individual gun owners who were part of the lawsuit.
Oh…and he is NOT a Trump appointee. Judge Reed O’Connor is a George W. Bush appointee (2007) and became become Chief Judge of the United States.
So if you are not a member of the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Second Amendment Foundation or one of the individual individuals that were part of the lawsuit….it’s still a Federal Crime to pack in a post office.
Oh, and Judge Reed Charles O’Connor is NOT a Trump appointee. He was actually appointee by George .W. Bush in 2007, and became Chief District Court for the Northern District of Texas in August 2025….an appointment bases on seniority…replacing Judge David Godbey who is now semi-retired.