Last Friday, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a heavy blow to concealed-carry rights when it ruled 2-1 in Bonidy et al v. U.S. Postal Service et al that the forced disarmament of post office patrons—both inside the lobby and in the post office parking lot—is constitutional. The decision reversed a 2013 district court ruling allowing people to stow firearms in their vehicles before entering the buildings.
Circuit Judge David Ebel wrote for the majority, “The security of the postal building itself is integrally related to the security of the parking lot adjacent to it.”
The court is mistaken in asserting that banning concealed carry on post office property will provide that security, as opposed to allowing law-abiding citizens the right to defend themselves and others. Why create a huge inconvenience—especially in places that don’t offer home mail delivery—just to give criminals another gun-free zone to ignore?
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