by Guy Page
Thursday, a gun went off at the Derby post office after it was dropped by its owner. State police say a man was removing his firearm before entering, to comply with federal regulations prohibiting carrying firearms in federal buildings.
State police sat that at 3:14 PM June 6, the Vermont State Police Derby Barracks received a report of an accidental discharge of a firearm that occurred at the post office. Troopers arrived on the scene and identified the male as Alex Carter, 68 of Morgan.
Investigation revealed Carter was removing his firearm prior to entering the post office. During the course of removing the firearm, he dropped it onto the ground, where a round was discharged into the ground. There are no reported injuries, police say.
Federal law says “no person while on postal property may carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed.” A decision by a Florida judge, purported to overturn the law, does not actually do so, post office authorities say, and the policy remains in effect.