Washington, DC—Today, Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-04), Co-Chair of the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus, introduced HR 9979 the Freedom to Ship Act, landmark legislation to protect the right of responsible Americans to lawfully ship firearms via common carriers. The bill also repeals the prohibition on mailing handguns through the United States Postal Service.
“For far too long, common carriers have interfered with the lawful transportation of firearms,” said Rep. Boebert. “The Biden Administration’s agenda was to take away our Second Amendment rights, and this legislation helps reverse that. The Freedom to Ship Act prohibits common carriers from forcing Federal Firearms Licensees to sign unjust, non-negotiable contracts and pay exorbitant fees. Discriminating against responsible gun owners hurts small businesses and undermines our Second Amendment right to Keep and Bear Arms.”
“Common carriers like the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx often impose harsh and unnecessary bans, restrictions, or excessive fees on shipping firearms, parts, and ammunition,” said Aidan Johnston, Director of Federal Affairs at Gun Owners of America. “Commerce runs on shipping. Denying gun owners and manufacturers access to the carriers every other industry relies on is a denial of the right itself. Gun Owners of America is proud to endorse Rep. Boebert’s Freedom to Ship Act, to bar common carriers from prohibiting the shipment of firearms, parts, and ammunition and infringing on the Second Amendment.”
Background: Under the Biden Administration, some common carriers have forced FFLs to sign non-negotiable adhesion contracts to enforce unconstitutional gun control aligned with the Administration’s war on the Second Amendment and responsible gun owners. Similarly, the federal government has prohibited shipment of handguns through USPS for nearly 100 years. The government’s discrimination against responsible gun owners places an undue burden on Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights and unreasonably restricts commerce. This legislation is needed to reverse the interference and overreach that intensified under the Biden Administration and restore the ability of law-abiding Americans to ship firearms without discrimination.
This legislation supports small businesses, facilitates greater interstate commerce, and ensures that common carriers cannot infringe on the rights of responsible Americans.
The Freedom to Ship Act is supported by Gun Owners of America, the National Rifle Association and the National Association for Gun Rights
Cosponsors of the Freedom to Ship Act include: Rep. Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Rep. Michael Cloud (TX-27), and Rep. Clay Higgins (LA-03).
Bill text of the Freedom to Ship Act can be found HERE.
