Based on your reference, you would need to look at statement prior to this quote to understand the context in which this law is applying to.
It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped; except that any passenger who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in interstate or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition into the custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such common or contract carrier for the duration of the trip without violating any of the provisions of this chapter. No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.
Some things to point out. A common carrier is not the USPS, UPS or FedEx. A common carrier would be an airline, railroad, bus line, cruise shipe or trucking company. THEY would need to be notified if you were using them to transport a firearm.
Please see this letter from the BATF regarding the disagreement at hand.
Please note, as written by the BATF:
Based on the above provision, if a firearm or ammunition is being shipped to one of the indicated classes of licensees, it is not required that the shipper be notified of the package contents. However, an individual shipper has the ability to require such notification if they so desire before accepting a package for shipment
If you're using a common carrier such as a American Airlines, Metra, Princess Cruise Lines, than yes, you need to notify them
by law that the package they are delivering contains a firearm. However, USPS, UPS and FedEX are
not governed by such as common carriers but instead are considered shippers.
In fact, if you look on the
UPS FAQ site regarding firearms you will notice that they specifically state that
When you are shipping a package that contains a handgun, you must verbally notify the UPS driver or UPS Customer Center clerk.
If it was Federal Law that notification must be made when shipping
any firearm to the shipper, then why would UPS state only handguns?
Again, I suggest you contact the BATF if you don't agree with what I have stated. When I have asked my FFL and a LEO who is waiting for acceptance into the BATF the same question, I was told that neither was aware of any LAW that required I notify the shipper. The shipper may require it, as I have stated in my original post, but by LAW, notification is not required.