Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 24 states in submitting a comment letter opposing a proposed rule by the United States Postal Service that would allow certain firearms to be shipped through the mail.
The proposal follows a 2026 opinion from the U.S. Department of Justice declaring a longstanding federal ban on mailing concealable firearms unconstitutional, despite the law being in place since 1927. The multistate letter argues the proposal is unlawful and would undermine public safety by weakening existing restrictions.
The coalition warns that allowing firearms to be shipped without going through licensed sellers could increase access for prohibited individuals, including felons and those under restraining orders, while also complicating law enforcement efforts to trace weapons. Officials say the change could create loopholes in state laws, including in Maryland, and increase costs for investigating gun crimes. The attorneys general also argue the Second Amendment does not require such a rule, noting the long-standing precedent of restricting firearms in the mail and emphasizing that Congress has maintained this prohibition for nearly a century.
