Major Win for Gun Owners: DOJ Walks Away From USPS Firearms Ban Fight

The Department of Justice has officially dropped its appeal in the Texas federal case that struck down the long‑standing ban on carrying or storing firearms on U.S. Post Office property — a ban that reached not only the building but the parking lot and even a firearm locked inside a vehicle. The lower‑court ruling now stands as the final word.

The case — Second Amendment Foundation & Firearms Policy Coalition v. U.S. Postal Service, decided in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas — held on September 30, 2025 that the blanket prohibition violated the Second Amendment under the Supreme Court’s Bruen historical‑tradition test. The court later clarified on March 17, 2026 that its injunction applied nationwide to all current and future members of the plaintiff organizations.

Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, gun owners have watched the DOJ send mixed signals — aggressively defending certain gun‑control measures while simultaneously backing away from others. Dropping this appeal is one of the clearest pro‑gun moves yet, even if the department’s overall posture remains inconsistent.

For years, the Post Office ban has been a major pain point for lawful gun owners. Unlike federal courthouses or other “sensitive places” people rarely visit, the Post Office is a routine stop for everyday Americans. Under the old rule, a concealed‑carry permit holder running errands couldn’t legally pull into the parking lot with a firearm secured in their vehicle. The only options were: leave the gun at home, skip the Post Office, or risk a federal charge.

Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, the NRA, SAF, FPC, and individual citizens challenged the ban using Bruen, arguing that no historical tradition supports a total prohibition on firearms across all postal property. The Texas court agreed.

The DOJ initially signaled it would fight the ruling at the Fifth Circuit (Case No. 25‑11328), but on July 16, 2026, it filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss its appeal — effectively cementing the victory for gun‑rights groups and leaving the nationwide injunction in place.

Gun owners now hope the DOJ continues making decisions grounded in constitutional analysis rather than continuing the pattern of mixed, contradictory enforcement positions.