Is a gun safe enough to keep your firearm secure in your car?
Over 30% of American adults own at least one firearm. Of those adults, many will take a gun with them as they drive. However, an unattended and unsecured firearm in a car is uniquely vulnerable to theft. Tragically, many guns criminals steal from cars are used in follow-on crimes. Still, gun owners can invest in security measures like car-mounted gun safes. But are they enough to keep a gun secure from a would-be thief?
A gun safe doesn’t always mean a safe gun
I grew up around an admittedly pessimistic adage. “If someone wants your stuff bad enough, they’re going to get it.” It’s a negative way to look at the persistence of thieves, but there’s some truth to it. Lock your car, and a determined criminal will smash your window. Secure your valuables out of sight, and a hell-bent miscreant will find your treasures. Therein lies the challenge of securing a gun in a car– even with a safe.
Several manufacturers design and make gun safes for cars, trucks, SUVs, and minivans. Some models fit into the center console or under the center armrest. Others fit under seats or replace a vehicle’s headrests with a concealed hiding spot. The safes often lock using keys, combinations, or electronic applications. While better than leaving your firearm on the seat or in a glove box, even a stout car gun safe isn’t infallible.
Like any lock or safe, a determined and knowledgeable thief can defeat a purpose-built car gun safe. After that, it’s police reports and paperwork. Make no mention of the potential for follow-on crimes with a firearm snatched from your parked vehicle.
A safe is a good start, but the best option is to take your weapon with you when you leave and make yourself a difficult target
According to FBI crime data, a thief steals a gun from a car every nine minutes in the United States, safe or not. Parked cars are the most common source of stolen firearms in the country, more so than home break-ins. Consequently, the best thing a gun owner can do to secure their firearm is take it with them when they park.
In circumstances where you must leave a firearm in an unattended vehicle, use a car gun safe or a locking container within your vehicle. It might seem obvious, but remember to lock your vehicle as well. 31% of American drivers admit they sometimes neglect to lock their car, per Tulane University. Worse yet, of every stolen car in the US, as many as 80% of those vehicles were left unlocked. Still, a gun that isn’t in a car can’t be stolen, locked away or not.
