For decades, the federal government has treated law-abiding gun owners like criminals the moment they step foot on Post Office property.
It didn’t matter if you were armed only for self-defense. It didn’t matter if you never caused harm to anyone. The so-called “gun-free zone” around Post Offices was absolute — and millions of Americans were forced to disarm just to pick up their mail.
But that dangerous fiction finally cracked (partially).
A Major Legal Breakthrough
On September 30, 2025, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor of the Northern District of Texas issued a landmark decision in Firearms Policy Coalition v. Bondi, ruling that the federal ban on carrying or possessing firearms at ordinary Post Offices and their parking lots violates the Second Amendment.
The court struck down two federal provisions — 18 U.S.C. § 930(a) and 39 C.F.R. § 232.1(l) — as applied to ordinary Post Offices, declaring them “inconsistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”
In plain English, the government failed to show any historical basis for disarming citizens in Post Offices — and the judge wasn’t buying the argument that every government building is automatically a “sensitive place.”
Judge O’Connor wrote that from the Founding onward, the United States faced violence and robbery targeting mail carriers and post offices — yet the Founders never responded by banning firearms. Instead, they punished actual crimes.
That historical record, he ruled, “undermines the notion that the Founders would have countenanced banning firearms in post offices.”
What the Ruling Actually Does
The ruling only protects the named plaintiffs and their members (Firearms Policy Coalition and Second Amendment Foundation).
The decision applies to ordinary Post Offices, not those located on military bases or inside secured federal buildings with other armed security operations.
So for now, if you’re not part of this case, the federal government still claims the authority to prosecute you for carrying in a Post Office.
This case represents one of the first major court rejections of a “gun-free zone” on federal property since Bruen.
For Texans who’ve long been forced to disarm just to check their mail, it’s a powerful affirmation that the right to bear arms doesn’t vanish on federal land.
But it’s also a reminder that constitutional rights shouldn’t depend on whether you’re lucky enough to belong to a particular organization or lawsuit.
That’s why Texas Gun Rights (TXGR) is calling for full repeal of the Post Office gun ban — so all law-abiding Texans can exercise their right to self-defense everywhere.
What Happens Next — The Fifth Circuit Fight
The battle likely isn’t over.
Because the Bondi Department of Justice lost this round, it has 60 days (until November 29, 2025) to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
If DOJ files its appeal, the Fifth Circuit — based in New Orleans and covering Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi — will take up the case in 2026.
Here’s what that fight could look like:
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Step 1: DOJ files its Notice of Appeal (due by late November).
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Step 2: The case is docketed in the Fifth Circuit, and briefing begins — with DOJ filing its opening brief, FPC and SAF responding, and DOJ replying.
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Step 3: A three-judge panel will review the case de novo (fresh, without deference to the district court).
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Step 4: The panel could affirm, reverse, or modify the ruling.
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Step 5: Either side could request a rehearing en banc (all active Fifth Circuit judges) or petition the Supreme Court to review the case.
The Fifth Circuit has a strong track record of defending the Second Amendment — striking down overreaches in cases like Rahimi, McRorey, and Reese.
That gives gun owners real hope that this victory will stand.
In the meantime, Texas Gun Rights Foundation (TXGRF) is preparing to file an amicus brief supporting the plaintiffs on appeal — making sure the voices of Texas gun owners are heard loud and clear.
“Until every Texan can carry their lawfully possessed firearms wherever they visit, our rights are still being trampled,” said TXGR President Chris McNutt.
“This victory shows that the courts are finally catching up with the Constitution — but it’s just the first step. Texas Gun Rights will not stop until every ‘gun-free zone’ is gone for good” he continued.
It’s Time to Double Down
The courts are starting to recognize what Texans have always known — that “shall not be infringed” means exactly what it says.
But we can’t rely on half-measures or patchwork rulings to secure our rights. Congress must act to repeal these unconstitutional restrictions — and gun owners must stay engaged while this battle moves through the Fifth Circuit.
Stand with Texas Gun Rights in the fight to ELIMINATE “Gun-Free” Sitting Duck Zones by joining or donating today.
Together, we’ll finish what this ruling started — restoring the full power of the Second Amendment across every inch of Texas and beyond.
