Why is it illegal to open someone elses mail?

Answer 1

18 U.S.C. § 1703 : US Code - Section 1703: Delay or destruction of mail or newspapersSearch 18 U.S.C. § 1703 : US Code - Section 1703: Delay or destruction of mail or newspapers

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(a) Whoever, being a Postal Service officer or employee, unlawfully secretes, destroys, detains, delays, or opens any letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail entrusted to him or which shall come into his possession, and which was intended to be conveyed by mail, or carried or delivered by any carrier or other employee of the Postal Service, or forwarded through or delivered from any post office or station thereof established by authority of the Postmaster General or the Postal Service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. (b) Whoever, being a Postal Service officer or employee, improperly detains, delays, or destroys any newspaper, or permits any other person to detain, delay, or destroy the same, or opens, or permits any other person to open, any mail or package of newspapers not directed to the office where he is employed; or Whoever, without authority, opens, or destroys any mail or package of newspapers not directed to him, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Answer 2

For the same reason that anything else that's illegal is illegal: lawmakers passed a law saying it was.

The reasoning behind the law in this case is pretty clear:

The US Postal Service is an agency of the US government (even though it's been quasi-independent since 1971). The US government therefore has a vested interest in protecting the mail.

Answer 3

Yes, it is a federal offense to open someone else mail without there consent.

Answer 4

yes it is because if it is not adressed to you i can tell you please do not open it