DOJ Allows Firearms for Self-Defense in Post Offices, Says New Memo
DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel says federal law permits guns in post offices for self-defense.
Why it matters: This shifts longstanding restrictions on firearms in federal buildings, affecting legal compliance and workplace safety in postal facilities. Legal counsel must reassess policies on firearm possession in federal workplaces.
- On August 12, 2026, DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel issued a memo permitting firearms in post offices for lawful purposes like self-defense.
- The memo interprets 18 U.S.C. 930(d)(3) as an exception to the general federal firearms prohibition in facilities under 18 U.S.C. 930(a).
- The opinion was authored by Lanora C. Pettit, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General.
- In January 2024, a federal court ruled the ban on guns in post offices unconstitutional due to lacking historical precedent.
On August 12, 2026, the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) issued a memorandum interpreting federal law to allow law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for self-defense in publicly accessible post office buildings. The OLC's opinion, authored by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Lanora C. Pettit, interprets 18 U.S.C. 930(a) — which generally prohibits firearms in federal facilities — in light of subsection 930(d)(3). This subsection provides an exception for "the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes."
The memo marks a notable shift from previous legal interpretations and Postal Service regulations that classified post offices as federal facilities where firearms possession was strictly prohibited. This change follows a January 12, 2024, ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, which invalidated the federal ban on firearms in post offices, citing a lack of historical precedent for such a prohibition according to the Duke Center for Firearms Law.
Lanora C. Pettit explained the legal interpretation plainly: "Section 930(d)(3) of title 18, U.S. Code, permits the lawful carrying of constitutionally protected firearms in post offices that are generally open to the public."
This interpretation may impact workplace safety protocols, legal compliance obligations for federal employees, and trigger potential policy adjustments within the U.S. Postal Service, though the memorandum does not yet clarify changes to existing Postal Service regulations.
By the numbers:
- August 12, 2026 — Date of DOJ OLC memorandum permitting firearms in post offices
- 18 U.S.C. 930(a) and 930(d)(3) — Key federal statutes interpreting firearm possession in federal facilities
- January 12, 2024 — Date of federal court ruling invalidating firearms ban in post offices
Yes, but: The OLC memorandum does not clarify how Postal Service internal policies or regulations will change in response, leaving compliance details unresolved.
What's next: Watch for potential updates from the U.S. Postal Service on regulations governing firearms within their facilities following the OLC opinion.