U.S. Post Office and issued guns...

[GS1890]

No...I'm not going to ask about the postal inspectors and their issued duty weapons. What I'm seeking is any information about policies,jobs, or areas of the country that routinely armed non-law enforcement employees of the postal service. Over the years, I've seen pictures of various old revolvers in gun magazines that were stamped property of the U.S. Postal Service. Am I correct to assume that at one time some postal employees were armed to protect the mails from theft ? (ie, gov't checks). If so, was it everywhere, or certain places ? When/why did this laudable practice stop ? Are there any non-postal inspectors still carrying a gun today ??

[DoD NucE]

I know postal inspectors used to be issued Ruger "speed six" revolvers I believe. I know they were the small Ruger revolvers anyhow. There were actually a number of them up for sale on the police turn in market a number of years ago.

[IL Lawman]

...certain Postal Employees carried firearms, but on duty ONLY. These were limited to drivers of semi-trailer postal trucks & what used to be called "line trucks". I remember seeing snub-nose type revolvers carried by these drivers. The weapons were carried for the protection of the cargo. The drivers themselves had NO police powers of any kind.
Postal employees who worked inside mail cars on the railroads also had firearms available to them from what I've been told.

[nsedet]

Are there any non-postal inspectors still carrying a gun today ??

USPIS has uniformed postal police officers who carry firearms, on-duty only, and are responsible for the protection of postal facilities and the mail itself. Primarily limited to large processing centers and such, but I know they are used for escorts and other off-property work as well.