If you need to send a firearm, there are a number of restrictions to be aware of, as well as certain licenses you and your recipient(s) may need to obtain for compliance. Here's everything you need to know about shipping guns and firearms on Pirate Ship.
Disclaimers
Pirate Ship and its staff are not compliance experts: We have put this information together from various sources into an intelligible, concise guide to get you started with properly sending firearms.
Compliance is the shipper's responsibility: Compliance with state, federal and carrier guidelines is your responsibility as the shipper. Compliance helps ensure the safety of postal workers handling your shipment, along with the safety of you and your recipient.
Ammunition is prohibited via Pirate Ship: You cannot send ammunition with any carrier on Pirate Ship, under any circumstances.
Have questions? If you have questions regarding properly shipping firearms with USPS, reference Section 43, Publication 52 of the Postal Explorer or contact your local postmaster.
No ammo—no exceptions
Ammunition is prohibited on Pirate Ship: As we stated in the Disclaimers section above, you cannot send ammunition with any carrier on Pirate Ship. There are no exceptions to this rule.
You can only use USPS to send firearms through Pirate Ship, not UPS
No firearms with UPS: Due to our agreement with UPS, you can't send any firearms with UPS on Pirate Ship. UPS prohibits guns or firearms of any kind to be sent on our platform.
UPS only allows firearm scopes: A firearm scope is the only firearm-related item that UPS allows you to buy labels for on Pirate Ship.
How to ship firearms with USPS
In most circumstances, you need a Federal Firearms License (FFL) to ship firearms with USPS
USPS requires you to have a Federal Firearms License in most circumstances: In the majority of circumstances, you need a Federal Firearms License from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to ship firearms with USPS.
Firearms must NOT be loaded
Unloaded firearms only: When shipping a firearm with USPS, they cannot be loaded under any circumstance. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Remember, you are prohibited from sending ANY ammunition with labels you purchase on Pirate Ship. This includes ammo loaded into a firearm.
Shipping firearms with an FFL
You can ship firearms to any state with an FFL: If you have a current, valid FFL license, you can ship firearms to any state in the U.S. with USPS. This includes handguns and pistols, as well as long guns like rifles and shotguns.
Shipping to an in-state recipient who doesn't have an FFL: If you wish to send a firearm to a recipient in your state who doesn't have an FFL, you will be responsible for running a background check before you ship. Your recipient CANNOT be any of the following:
A felon
Convicted of domestic violence
A subject of a domestic restraining order
A fugitive
An unlawful user of a controlled substance
An undocumented worker
A dishonorably discharged veteran
A former U.S. citizen who has renounced their citizenship
Declared mentally deficient or involuntarily committed to a mental institution
Out-of-state recipients must have an FFL: If you have an FFL and are shipping a firearm outside of your state, your recipient must also hold a current, valid FFL. Before you purchase any labels, your recipient should either fax, email, or mail you a copy of their license for you to confirm.
Once you confirm your recipient's license, you can only ship to the person and address listed on the certificate provided.
Shipping firearms without an FFL
Shipping firearms with USPS if you don't have an FFL: There are limited situations when you can ship firearms with USPS without an Federal Firearms License.
USPS does not require an FFL in the following cases:
Shipping rifle or shotgun mailings by individuals to themselves in another state
Shipping intrastate shipments of rifles or shotguns that are permissible by the state and local laws
Shipping to a dealer or manufacturer with an FFL when sent by an individual
Shipping antique or replica firearms and antique or modern muzzle loaders (except muzzle loading hand guns) by individuals
Properly packaging firearms to ship with USPS
Use a new corrugated cardboard box: To package your firearms properly, ensure that your box is new, sturdy, and has plenty of room for packing material to cushion and protect the firearm.
If your firearm comes inside of a custom mold inside of a hardshell case, then place that hardshell case inside of a larger cardboard box.
Do NOT indicate that a firearm is inside: Federal law prohibits any markings on a package that indicate a gun may be inside. So, we recommend that the exterior of your box is totally blank.
Be careful of including revealing info in the Rubber Stamps: In addition to your box, all the labels on your shipment must also be non-descriptive. So, when creating your label, you can't include any information in the Rubber Stamp field that may hint that you're sending a firearm.
Insure your firearm shipment with InsureShield
Purchase insurance for your firearm shipment: USPS services such as USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express each come with $100 of USPS insurance. However, most firearms are worth more than $100. Therefore, we recommend purchasing extra insurance for your firearm shipment.
InsureShield on Pirate Ship: InsureShield is our third-party shipping insurance, which you can add to your shipment every time you create labels. It costs just $1 for every $100 for declared value, and you can insure USPS shipments up to $5,000 👍
Whether your shipment gets lost in transit, arrives damaged, or is stolen after delivery, you can rest assured knowing you're protected for its full value!
Pro Pirate Tip: To ensure you get InsureShield coverage, your shipment must comply with any applicable carrier restrictions! If your insured shipment breaks one of the UPS/USPS rules by sending an item prohibited by the carrier, InsureShield will automatically void the coverage you purchased.
For example, let's say you use UPS to send a firearm and file an insurance claim for that shipment when it arrives damaged. InsureShield will automatically deny the claim, since UPS prohibits all firearm shipments on our platform. In addition, your Pirate Ship account will risk termination, as this is a significant compliance infraction with UPS.
Read the full InsureShield Terms and Conditions for Insurance.
Shipping firearms internationally
UPS is not available for international firearm shipments: As is the case with domestic firearm shipments on Pirate Ship, you CANNOT use UPS to ship firearms overseas.
International firearm shipments with USPS require a special license: If you wish to ship firearms internationally with USPS, you need a license or license exemption authorized by the U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC).
You can apply for a license or learn more about license exemptions on the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls website.
Pro Pirate Tip: For the most detailed information on sending firearms overseas with USPS, we recommend reading through Section 540 (Munitions) in the USPS International Mail Manual.
Here, you'll find the most recent lists of prohibited countries and restricted countries. You'll also see whether export licenses or license exemptions are available for sending firearms to your intended destination country.
Check your destination country for any regulations or restrictions
Different countries have different restrictions on firearms: Before buying international labels, you should always research whether your destination country prohibits or restricts firearm shipments.
Not every country allows firearms to be imported. For instance, Canada prohibits you from sending firearms there, even if your recipient has a license to own the firearm.
Check the Individual Country Listings: You can use the USPS Individual Country Listings to see whether your destination country prohibits firearm shipments.