Stop theft and violent crimes: Safely store your weapons

ALBANY — More years ago than I would like to admit, a city of Atlanta Policeman gave a friend a lesson in safe gun storage I will never forget it.

The officer had traveled from Valdosta to Atlanta to attend a concert featuring a popular band. When he and his date returned to his pickup truck in a parking deck near the venue, he discovered that a window had been broken out and three firearms were missing. The responding officer was not sympathetic informing him that if he was stupid enough to park a vehicle in the city with an NRA decal and guns visible in the rear window rack, he might need to stay home.

It was the ’70s, and many of us did — as rumor has it — go to school with firearms unsecured in the rear windows of our trucks. As the previous anecdote indicates, theft was not unheard of; however, it was not prevalent. Obviously, we are living in a different time, and firearms security is relevant for reasons beyond theft.

Stolen guns are a prominent contributor to gun crimes. It is estimated that an average of 200,000 firearms are stolen in the United States annually. FBI data no longer available indicated that in 2014 the theft of firearms from vehicles surpassed the theft of firearms in burglaries. The Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Thefts report for 2021 indicated 96% of stolen firearms in the US were stolen from private owners. Although firearms sales increased significantly between 2017 and 2021,gun thefts fell significantly from 221,898 to 201,731.

Although the report went on to say that only 10% of stolen guns are used in crimes annually, that equates to 20,000 potentially preventable crimes. However, 43.2% of criminals who used a firearm in the commission of a crime did not purchase it legally. Furthermore 20% of inmates who committed a crime with a firearm obtained it solely for that purpose. Interestingly, firearms purchased from gun shows are the least likely to be used in crimes (0.8%), and those purchased from an FFL dealer by the offender account for only 1.3% of those crimes.

Obviously, leaving firearms visible in an unattended parked vehicle is not advisable. Firearms should be unloaded and cased for security and safety. At a minimum, they should be in a soft case to protect them from damage while being transported. If possible, they should be in the trunk of a sedan, the cases covered by a blanket or jackets in the rear of an SUV, or in a toolbox or covered truck and locked truck bed.

Do not rely on tinted windows as your sole effort to stop prying eyes. It doesn’t take much time to break side windows and access the interior of any vehicle. How many people really pay any attention to car alarms in a parking lot these days?

Sadly, showing loyalty to a firearm manufacturer with bumper or window stickers is not advisable, as it provides a great deal of unintended information to a would-be thief. Vehicles bearing these Logos are more likely to have those firearms stored inside. Sadly, the same is true for those advocating the virtues of the Second Amendment and other political opinions. Some things are best left unsaid.

If you do choose to carry a firearm in your vehicle and leave it unattended, there are a variety of gun racks and console safes that can provide some level of security. If these are not an option, try to store handguns and long guns in hard case that are lockable and can be secured to the vehicle with a cable lock. Most SUVs and pickup trucks have tiedowns in the cargo area to make this an easy option. Cable locks also offer a temporary option if firearms are being carried on four-wheelers or side-by-sides that might be left unattended.

There are a variety of options for safely storing firearms in the home. Obviously, the most secure and protective choice is a gun safe. These safes vary in the amount of protection beyond theft, including limited protection from fire and humidity. Safes vary in size from those that can secure a single handgun to those that can store many handguns, firearms, and other valuables.

Gun safes may be opened by a simple key or combination dial or digital and touch screen applications. Size is limited by two factors: available space and your budget. I will offer a word of caution learned the hard way: Measure twice to be sure the safe can be placed where you want it. This includes checking to see if it will pass thru the doors between the location you want to place it and the truck or trailer that delivers it.

Also, be prepared to pay a professional to move what will prove to be a very heavy and bulky item. On the other hand, many multigun safes are easily moved with a hand truck and can be placed discreetly in a closet. It is recommended that owners bolt the safe to the floor or walls where it is placed. Otherwise, what goes in easily can be removed easily with guns inside. At a minimum, firearms stored in the home should either be in a locked hard case, or have a trigger lock, or action lock.

Another important aspect of gun storage is to keep a record of your firearms, including the make, model, and serial number. Also include accessories such as optics or any customized features. Store these records in a separate location form your firearms. In the case of theft, you will have essential information for the police report. I have been fortunate to have had one gun recovered and returned a few years following the theft. It also may help if you decide to make an insurance claim.

It is one thing to bemoan the fact we can no longer carry our firearms in the rear window of our truck. It’s another to not do anything about it. Sadly, in today’s world, the reality is that the gun owner who does not secure their firearms in a responsible manner becomes the villain.

Staff Photo: Tom SeegmuellerStaff Photo: Tom Seegmueller