Feds are Searching Mail for Firearm Parts

Have you ever wondered whether the Feds are looking through your mail when you send firearm parts? You can now rest easy knowing that the answer is a resounding “yes.” Earlier this month, Federal agents arrested three individuals for shipping firearms parts via the United States Postal Service. It’s a reminder for anyone who ships gun parts in the mail that what they ship is being watched.

The Background

On December 7th, the US Attorney’s Office filed charges against three Rhode Island residents for shipping firearms and firearms parts in the mail. The three men were felons and had been shipping illegal machine guns, silencers, and other weapons. The defendants shipped extremely illegal items like fully automatic AR-15s, but also fairly innocuous items like legal AK-47 parts and magazines. They shipped ammo, too.

Multiple agencies cooperated on the operation; members of the Department of Homeland Security, ATF, Post Office, and local law enforcement all played a part in the investigation. In total, law enforcement tracked more than 45 packages over the course of the investigation.

The searches stem from a Justice Department initiative called “Project Safe Neighborhoods.” Launched in 2001, the program coordinates law enforcement at federal, state, and local levels in all 50 states. The Justice Department revamped the project in 2021 with the intent to cut down on “violent crime.”

Final Thoughts

For the unaware, it’s totally legal to ship ammo and gun parts in the mail. Unless you’re shipping a part that’s regulated by the ATF (like an AR-15 lower receiver), shipping these items works the same way as shipping anything else. Southern Defense Solutions even does this, and will ship ammo directly to your home. It’s super convenient, and one of the things that makes this country so great.

Like we said, the defendants in this case aren’t good people. They’re all previous felons, and as such, are prohibited persons who cannot own firearms.

But even though the people caught up in this incident aren’t the most sympathetic defendants, this situation is a stark reminder to be careful if you decide to ship or receive gun parts in the mail. Even if you’re not sending parts that are currently illegal, remember that the ATF can arbitrarily decide that certain gun parts are illegal – just like they did with pistol braces and forced reset triggers (FRTs).