By Morf Morford, Tacoma Daily Index
If you pay attention to local crime, you know that there seems to be far too many weapons in the hands of those who should not have them.
The question for many of us is, how do young people and those with criminal intent have access to so many weapons?
The Tacoma Police Department has the answer in a recent press release.
In short, too many of us with the right, if not need, to carry weapons, do so at a level of irresponsibility that is difficult to comprehend.
To put it simply, such use and storage of weapons on a military base would be entirely unacceptable.
Here’s the press release in total;
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“The Tacoma Police Department is asking gun owners to help reduce the number of firearms being stolen from vehicles by practicing responsible gun ownership. A gun is stolen out of a vehicle in Tacoma every 48 hours.
Gun owners can help prevent these thefts by taking the following precautions:
• Do not leave firearms in your vehicle
• Keep firearms secured and follow safe handling procedures
• Keep firearms out of the hands of juveniles.
In 2022, 202 guns were stolen out of vehicles in Tacoma. Between January 1 and January 22, 2023, 10 guns have been reported stolen out of vehicles. Those numbers are only thefts of firearms from vehicle prowls, it does not include those firearms stolen during motor vehicle thefts.
“Stolen guns are finding their way into the hands of juveniles and are being used in violent crimes,“ said Tacoma Chief of Police Avery L. Moore. “Many of these firearms are stolen in vehicle prowls. By not leaving firearms unattended in your vehicle, you are helping us keep guns out of the hands of juveniles.”
If you are the victim of a theft in which a firearm is stolen, please call 911 if it is in progress, otherwise call (253) 287-4455. Firearm thefts cannot be done online.”
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A “well regulated Militia” we ain’t
While certainly subject to interpretation, one central aspect and premise of the Second Amendment is the assumption of proper and responsible use and care of any weapon.
While the Founding Fathers never had cause to consider leaving a lethal weapon in one’s vehicle (locked or not) they, at minimum would have presumed that a basic level of care would be taken to ensure that such weapons would not find their way into the hands of children or criminals.
They, of course, would never have anticipated a level of carelessness that we currently see (literally) on our city streets.
When I was young, a generation or so ago, the NRA (National Rifle Association) believed first and foremost in gun safety.
And, oddly enough, they adhered to their original name; the National Rifle Association. They supported legislation restricting the use of pistols for individual use.
Pistols, of course, would not be used in hunting, (the original context for the NRA) but would in fact, be far more likely to be used by criminals.
But of course, that was then, and now the NRA has become an advocate for any weapons anywhere. For anyone.
Whatever your stance on the Second Amendment, a core premise of any item – especially a weapon – is that the owner is responsible for how it is handled, stored and used.
Leaving anything of value or potential hazard to the community in one’s vehicle unattended is profoundly careless, if not stupid. And, presumably, leaves the legal owner, to some degree at least, legally, if not criminally, responsible.
Since it apparently needs to be repeated,
• Do not leave firearms in your vehicle
• Keep firearms secured and follow safe handling procedures
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Our vehicles are in public much of the time and they are vulnerable. A simple guideline is to leave NOTHING of value unattended. This is a placard I keep in my car. (Photo by Morf Morford)
A national study by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) showed that from 2012 to 2018, nearly 14,800 guns that had been reported stolen or “lost” from gun stores were recovered by police.
Again, no matter your position on the Second Amendment, gun ownership and use is a right and responsibility, and perhaps above all, our right and responsibility is to keep guns out of the wrong hands.
