Note: this section does not cover federal lands (National Parks, Forests, etc.). See the “Federal Lands” section.
Highlights
- You may not carry a firearm in a federal building or courthouse.
- You may not carry a firearm into a post office.
- You may not carry at a VA hospital, facility, veterans' home, or a veterans' cemetery.
Federal buildings and courthouses
It is illegal to carry a firearm into any federally owned building or courthouse. This includes the Post Office, Social Security Office,
VA hospitals and clinics, Park and Forest Service offices, and various other small government offices.
It is illegal to carry a firearm into any federally owned building or courthouse. This includes the Post Office, Social Security Office,
VA hospitals and clinics, Park and Forest Service offices, and various other small government offices.
18 USC § 930. [omissions made]
(a) Except as provided in subsection (d), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility (other than a Federal court facility), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
(d) Subsection (a) shall not apply to--
(3) the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes.
(e)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal court facility, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
(f) Nothing in this section limits the power of a court of the United States to punish for contempt or to promulgate rules or orders regulating, restricting, or prohibiting the possession of weapons within any building housing such court or any of its proceedings, or upon any grounds appurtenant to such building.
(g) As used in this section:
(1) The term “Federal facility” means a building or part thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties.
(2) The term “dangerous weapon” means a weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury, except that such term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 2½ inches in length.
(3) The term “Federal court facility” means the courtroom, judges’ chambers, witness rooms, jury deliberation rooms, attorney conference rooms, prisoner holding cells, offices of the court clerks, the United States attorney, and the United States marshal, probation and parole offices, and adjoining corridors of any court of the United States.
(h) Notice of the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal facility, and notice of subsection (e) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal court facility, and no person shall be convicted of an offense under subsection (a) or (e) with respect to a Federal facility if such notice is not so posted at such facility, unless such person had actual notice of subsection (a) or (e), as the case may be.
Note: this section applies to all buildings owned or operated by the federal government whether it is an actual “Federal Building” or a federal courthouse. This includes small federal government agency offices and ones at National Parks.
Note: unless you are carrying a weapon to commit a crime (see omitted (b) and (c)), notices must be posted for you to be convicted. Subsection (h) does not mean that you can carry in those places if they aren’t posted, but rather that the government has to post them as “no weapons” in order to successfully prosecute you or prove that you had “actual notice” (which is undefined).
Post offices
Note: unless you are carrying a weapon to commit a crime (see omitted (b) and (c)), notices must be posted for you to be convicted. Subsection (h) does not mean that you can carry in those places if they aren’t posted, but rather that the government has to post them as “no weapons” in order to successfully prosecute you or prove that you had “actual notice” (which is undefined).
Post offices
39 CFR 232.1(l). Weapons and explosives. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule or regulation, no person while on postal property may carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, or store the same on postal property, except for official purposes.
Note: This includes the parking lot, but not post-office windows in stores (contract stations).
Veteran’s Administration (VA)-hospitals and cemeteries
Veteran’s Administration (VA)-hospitals and cemeteries
38 CFR § 1.218. (a) [...] the following rules and regulations apply at all property under the charge and control of VA (and not under the charge and control of the General Services Administration) [...]
(13) Weapons and explosives. No person while on property shall carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, except for official purposes.
Note: The VA owns 131 out of 147 veteran’s cemeteries nationwide.
Military bases
Military bases would be considered a federal facility. Please consult your local military base for further details.
Federal prisons
Military bases
Military bases would be considered a federal facility. Please consult your local military base for further details.
Federal prisons
28 CFR Subpart B et seq. allow searched of non-inmates for prohibited items, which include firearms. Weapons are prohibited under 18 USC § 930 and supplying contraband is a separate crime.
Airports/Aircraft
See: 49 CFR 1540.111 and 49 USC § 46505
Under federal law, firearms are prohibited beyond the TSA checkpoints. You also cannot attempt to enter a TSA checkpoint while armed, even by mistake. Check your bags! Even loose ammunition, empty magazines, spent cases, and miscellaneous gun parts have caused problems and prosecutions for travelers. Learn more about the TSA regulations.
Under federal law, firearms are prohibited beyond the TSA checkpoints. You also cannot attempt to enter a TSA checkpoint while armed, even by mistake. Check your bags! Even loose ammunition, empty magazines, spent cases, and miscellaneous gun parts have caused problems and prosecutions for travelers. Learn more about the TSA regulations.