By Lee Williams
SAF Investigative Journalism Project
(The Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project wouldn’t be possible without you. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support pro-gun stories like this.)
UPDATED, 7/4/22 @ 1:40 p.m. PDT — United Parcel Service allegedly terminated accounts of gun dealers across the country. Any packages currently in the UPS system may be “seized and destroyed.”
A letter, apparently from UPS and received by one Florida gun dealer, Ghost Firearms, said the company was terminating the account because they “may be violating” laws concerning homemade firearm parts.
“We write to inform you that UPS has learned that your company may be violating applicable laws concerning the shipment of “ghost guns” to unauthorized locations,” the letter states. “In light of our concern, UPS has determined that it will cancel your account, effective immediately.
Ghost’s owner, Joe Zatar was told all scheduled pickups will be cancelled, and that he cannot reopen another UPS account or ship anything from a UPS store or website.
However, the company website is posting this notice: “SHIPPING UPDATE: No shipping interruptions, All orders and items are processing normally.”
When this story first broke, Zatar was most concerned about the packages already in the UPS system, which he may have already lost.
“Please note that any package found in the UPS system determined to have been tendered by GHOST FIREARMS may be seized and destroyed,” the letter states.
“I just shipped more than $30,000 worth of products,” he said.
Zatar immediately called his UPS sales rep, who said he had no idea the account was terminated.
Ghost Firearms sells uppers, lowers, handguards and OEM parts for a number of manufacturers. They also sell 80% receivers.
“We do not ship to states where they’re not allowed,” Zatar said. “We are in total compliance. We had ATF in here just two weeks ago, and they told us we were completely legal.”
Initially, Retail giant Brownells told their customers in a Facebook post Friday that they too were terminated by UPS.
Brownells did not specify in their post the reason why UPS terminated their account, and the post was taken down several hours later.
UPS’ Media Relations personnel did not return calls or emails seeking comment for this story.
The Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project wouldn’t be possible without you. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support pro-gun stories like this.
