Moving and shipping handguns or rifles to Alaska (Kodiak: rent, services)

[stiffnecked]

Why is so much bad information posted about this subject? If you don't know what the current law is quit acting like you do.

Start with the Q and A from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. This federal agency is responsible for all laws that govern the interstate shipment of firearms. And if your moving from Kalifornia or Florida or any other state you will be involved in "interstate" movement of some type.
http://www.atf.treas.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/qa.pdf


1. Long guns such as rifles and shotguns can be mailed to yourself via USPS.
Handguns cannot be shipped by USPS without utilizing an FFL. That option
is both expensive, burdensome and not necessary.

B8) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?]A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her
own State or to a licensee in any State. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. A nonlicensee may not transfer any firearm to a nonlicensed resident of another State.
The Postal Service recommends that longguns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the
contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms.

2. Handguns may be shipped by common carrier such as UPS, FedEx, or DHL.
I have found this to be a somewhat difficult process as policies don't seem to be applied consistently around the country.

(B9) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by carrier?A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A) and 922(e), 27 CFR 178.31]

3. The easiest, cheapest and most cost efficent way to ship handguns is by
using the airfreight services of one of the major airlines. I use Alaska Airlines as they seem to be well versed in the shipment of firearms. You can go on the web sites for most of them to find out the info. Try to find there portal for air freight to get that information.

4. If you have a quantity of long guns, rifles and shotguns, it might be cheaper to mail them to yourself using the USPS. If you already have an address to recevie mail use that.You can send them to yourself in care of a third party as long as you tell them not to opent the package.

(B10) May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity?
Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of
another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any ther lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons ther than the owner should not open the package and take possession of thefirearm,

Feel free to post any actual experiences that you have had both good or bad.

[Classic Satch]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

Why is so much bad information posted about this subject? If you don't know what the current law is quit acting like you do.

Start with the Q and A from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. This federal agency is responsible for all laws that govern the interstate shipment of firearms. And if your moving from Kalifornia or Florida or any other state you will be involved in "interstate" movement of some type.
http://www.atf.treas.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/qa.pdf


1. Long guns such as rifles and shotguns can be mailed to yourself via USPS.
Handguns cannot be shipped by USPS without utilizing an FFL. That option
is both expensive, burdensome and not necessary.

B8) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?]A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her
own State or to a licensee in any State. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. A nonlicensee may not transfer any firearm to a nonlicensed resident of another State.
The Postal Service recommends that longguns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the
contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms.

2. Handguns may be shipped by common carrier such as UPS, FedEx, or DHL.
I have found this to be a somewhat difficult process as policies don't seem to be applied consistently around the country.

(B9) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by carrier?A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A) and 922(e), 27 CFR 178.31]

3. The easiest, cheapest and most cost efficent way to ship handguns is by
using the airfreight services of one of the major airlines. I use Alaska Airlines as they seem to be well versed in the shipment of firearms. You can go on the web sites for most of them to find out the info. Try to find there portal for air freight to get that information.

4. If you have a quantity of long guns, rifles and shotguns, it might be cheaper to mail them to yourself using the USPS. If you already have an address to recevie mail use that.You can send them to yourself in care of a third party as long as you tell them not to opent the package.

(B10) May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity?
Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of
another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any ther lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons ther than the owner should not open the package and take possession of thefirearm,

Feel free to post any actual experiences that you have had both good or bad.

This is exactly what I've been looking for. I'm moving out of the "lower 48" in less than two weeks and have a few handguns to ship.

Thanks!

[stiffnecked]

One other thing that's not mentioned is that Canada also bans high capacity clips for semi-automatic handguns and rifles. I personally don't ever take firearms through Canada any longer. When I do go I carry a large cannister of "marked" bear spray. As long as it's marked "bear repellant" it's generally allowed.

[mom2gurls]

Thanks..I am in the business of concealed carry jackets, bags, and the like..so this is great to know!

[warptman]

Hey Satcher, when are you heading north? You are driving, right?

[Classic Satch]

Originally Posted by warptman

Hey Satcher, when are you heading north? You are driving, right?

Should be within the next 2 weeks. The wife's license is coming through around May 8th and she begins training in Kodiak immediately thereafter.

And no, I'm not driving. Walmart is picking up the tab to have it shipped.

[warptman]

Sweet, I didn't know you were a greeter. Next time I goto Walmart, I'll keep an eye out for you.

[Classic Satch]

Originally Posted by warptman

Sweet, I didn't know you were a greeter. Next time I goto Walmart, I'll keep an eye out for you.

Lol. Good one warpt.