UPS Clarifies Position on Shipping of Suppressors — Sort of

Authors Industry News S.H. Blannelberry This Week
"What can Brown to for you?"  (Photo: Wikipedia)

“What can Brown to for you?” (Photo: Wikipedia)

There were rumblings recently that UPS was going to stop shipping suppressors, even between licensed manufacturers and federal firearms licensees.

If it were true it would be a huge deal as the suppressor market is booming right now. Reportedly, there are over 600,000 suppressors in circulation right now. Let’s face it, everyone wants to “fight the noise” these days.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry trade association, reached out to Brown to find out what was going on. Did UPS suddenly decide to ban the shipment of suppressors also known as silencers between FFLs?

Apparently not, according to this statement to Ammoland from Steve Gaut, VP of public relations for UPS:

UPS accepts for shipment certain firearms, firearms ammunition and firearms accessories as long as the shipments comply with applicable law and are shipped in accordance with company policies. These shipments are between licensed manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors and exclude consumer shipments. UPS has for many years restricted shipments of silencers or mufflers as part of the company’s firearms and ammunition policy.

The company’s general policy is at the following link:

UPS recently became aware of a shipper that tendered silencers for shipment.

Consistent with the general policy, UPS informed the company that it could no longer accept shipments of packages containing those specific products. UPS will engage in discussions with licensed entities about compliance with all applicable laws and regarding the potential establishment of a contractual exception to the general policy under which UPS may ship such products. These discussions will occur on a company-by-company basis and are proprietary.

Apparently, UPS is going to address the matter on a case by case basis for licensed companies and shippers.  No telling how long this will take but it seems that UPS is not closing the door on the shipment of suppressors.

Either way, one can be sure that manufacturers, FFLs and the entire gun community would have no trouble taking our business elsewhere if UPS ends up giving everyone a raw deal.

We’ll await further word from the NSSF and the American Suppressor Association as they continue to discuss the matter with UPS.

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  • Dan May 26, 2015, 9:03 am

    I wrote an e-mail to UPS about this… and got the same reply. WE, each and every one of us are responsible to keep our firearms. If we would DROP every business that said they would not ship or sell, or allow us to have our firearms or ammunition WE would make a difference. While I support a companies right to not ship or sell something, I have the right to boycott that business or individuals business. However many of us shrug our shoulders and continue to patronize that business. So those that patronize these businesses are responsible if we lose our 2nd amendment rights. I am just one person that sent an email to UPS telling them I planned on using FED EX… it seems they backed down pretty fast as they saw the $$ signs and their investors maybe firing those CEO’s responsible. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE… BUT WE ALL HAVE TO DO OUR PART!!!

  • Thomas Stevens May 26, 2015, 6:51 am

    From now on I’m going to ask my suppliers to please ship using FedEx.

  • Will Drider May 20, 2015, 3:59 pm

    Big Brown (as in turd) has been anti gun for years and keeps looking to restrict more at every opertunity. A while ago they refused to ship benign milling machines because they make gun parts: legal parts! There is no doubt they ship parts and machinery to firearms manufactures, so whats the deal. Are they going to stop shipping 3D printers next? It does the same function as the mill they won’t ship and the printers make a lot of different gun parts. Since the big shippers have a monopoly, and the gov post office is restricted, there should be a law suit for restricting trade/ commerce practices.

    I ship everything I can from the post office.

    • Steve January 27, 2017, 11:29 am

      “I ship everything I can from the post office.”

      Of course, not before disarming yourself before going in.

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