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Sorry if this has been asked before...

A grocery store near my office recently added a Post Office inside the store. Can I carry legally? Thanks in advance for your help.

...yes...there's prolly a window you walk up to to do business...maybe P.O. Boxes cut into the wall...unless you walk into a separate room to use the Post Office, they can't post the whole store...they're a tenant of the store...

If the USPS is a tenant of a grocery store you can still carry. I'm pretty sure they have to be the main business, lease holder or building owner(with operations in the building) in order for the restriction to be enforced.

I recently "discovered" (new to me) a nearby USPS location inside a retail shop near me.
Not only has there never been more than a 3 minute wait at the counter, but I don't have to leave my gun at home when I go there.

Unless the grocery store is a PX, it's probably not a federal facility.

A US Post Office is a US Post Office. Usually, it's a big ugly building with a flag and USPS vehicles in abundance outside. Inside are non-smiling people in grey USPS uniforms.

These other places are contractor's stores with contractor's employees that sell stamps and hold mail for the real USPS people to pick up. They are not federal facilities...are they?

Oldgringo wrote: They are not federal facilities...are they?

I would think not. If so, the Ace Hardware near me creates an issue...they have a PO center inside the building, and a big beautiful sign on the front door stating that they not only authorize, but encourage and welcome legal concealed carry on the premises!

cbunt1 wrote:
I would think not. If so, the Ace Hardware near me creates an issue...they have a PO center inside the building, and a big beautiful sign on the front door stating that they not only authorize, but encourage and welcome legal concealed carry on the premises!

May their tribe increase!

Oldgringo wrote:A US Post Office is a US Post Office. Usually, it's a big ugly building with a flag and USPS vehicles in abundance outside. Inside are non-smiling people in grey USPS uniforms.

These other places are contractor's stores with contractor's employees that sell stamps and hold mail for the real USPS people to pick up. They are not federal facilities...are they?

One of the buildings in downtown Houston has what appears to be a real deal remote / satellite USPS office in it's lobby. IIRC staff have proper ID cards, wear USPS uniforms, etc. Small area for PO boxes. Walk up window for buying stamps, sending packages, etc. I've often wondered how much of the building is off limits.

Dad24GreatKids wrote:

Oldgringo wrote:A US Post Office is a US Post Office. Usually, it's a big ugly building with a flag and USPS vehicles in abundance outside. Inside are non-smiling people in grey USPS uniforms.

These other places are contractor's stores with contractor's employees that sell stamps and hold mail for the real USPS people to pick up. They are not federal facilities...are they?

One of the buildings in downtown Houston has what appears to be a real deal remote / satellite USPS office in it's lobby. IIRC staff have proper ID cards, wear USPS uniforms, etc. Small area for PO boxes. Walk up window for buying stamps, sending packages, etc. I've often wondered how much of the building is off limits.

A friend and I had this exact discussion last night. I would think that a separate USPS room might be off limits but not the whole store. It is hard for me to read the legaleese but has anyone found the statute that applies or a federal prosecutor’s opinion?

Here's a thought....Given the financial condition of the USPS these days, maybe the whole issue of post office carry will go away as UPS, FEDEX, and email begin to substitute for the daily postal service.

ralewis wrote:Here's a thought....Given the financial condition of the USPS these days, maybe the whole issue of post office carry will go away as UPS, FEDEX, and email begin to substitute for the daily postal service.

That substitution, along with our Congress-critters manipulating the management of the USPS is WHY they are in the financial condition that they are today. A lot of the junk mail that used to come via the USPS is now delivered by web sites. I, for one, am not looking forward to the day that my mailbox is replaced by an e-mail address completely. I get as many junk e-mails as I used to get paper junk mail and that is before there is any real public knowledge of my e-mail address.

I've found a dry cleaner who has a USPS counter. The staff is friendly and, for some reason, the packages that I send there get to their destinations faster than if I used the sticks and bricks USPS facility. There is no stopping my car on an non-USPS parking lot and disarming before I try to buy stamps or send a package. There is no question that the dry cleaner is not a Federal facility. I hope that never have to step foot on Federal USPS property again - except that I have renew my passport this year and will probably have to then.

A while back, I had a lady CHL student from Lubbock. She said some of the grocery stores there also serve as polling places for advance voting. Is that not a little can of worms?

I would think not. If so, the Ace Hardware near me creates an issue...they have a PO center inside the building, and a big beautiful sign on the front door stating that they not only authorize, but encourage and welcome legal concealed carry on the premises!

I've always love ACE Hardware stores...

Places like postal centers in stores and Postnets, et al are not post offices but authorized collection and delivery places. So that clears the air a little more IMHO.