Citizens are all responsible for firearm safety

Criminals got their hands on more than 1,000 guns in Albuquerque over the past 20 months, and that is truly alarming.

They didn’t do it by robbing a gun shop or breaking into a sporting goods store in the middle of the night, hauling away a cache of firearms. Instead, they collected the weapons one vehicle at a time, breaking into cars, trucks and SUVs throughout the city, and walking away with guns and other valuables left inside. Or, in some cases, by stealing vehicles that had weapons inside.

The Albuquerque Police Department sounded the alarm on the scary trend, pleading with gun owners to take steps so they don’t fall victim to these types of thefts and so new victims are not created when these guns fall into the hands of criminals.

At the criminal justice level, police and the District Attorney’s Office should continue working with federal authorities and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to throw the book at felons caught with firearms — stolen or not. The penalties that criminals face in federal court are often harsher than what they face in state court.

But all of us across the state have to do our part to fight crime, and that’s where APD’s message to the community comes in.

“The vast majority of gun owners are responsible and understand safety is always the top priority,” APD Commander Joe Burke says. “But the responsibilities extend to keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, or even others who are not trained to use them.

“That means locking up guns — in your home and in your vehicle. Don’t leave unsecured guns in your vehicle — in your own driveway, nor in a parking lot when you’re shopping for groceries or going to the gym.”

It’s sound advice anyone with a firearm should heed.

APD reports from July 2016 through March 2018, there were 1,035 instances where firearms were taken from vehicles. Authorities also say that the northeast area command, much of the city north of Interstate 40 between Eubank and Interstate 25, had the most stolen gun cases.

With the crime wave that has hit the metro area in recent years, it’s not surprising many Albuquerque residents own guns for self protection. But we can’t stress enough APD’s message that owning a firearm comes with responsibilities, and keeping that firearm away from lowlifes who prey on others is one of those responsibilities. So if you have a gun and need to store that weapon in your car from time to time, install a gun safe in your vehicle.

Failing to do so risks a criminal getting his/her hands on your gun, and using it to prey on you, your neighbors, friends and even your family. It makes us all less safe.

There was a time when keeping a gun in a vehicle wasn’t a big deal, but clearly times have changed. Given the number of vehicle break-ins and car thefts around New Mexico, leaving a firearm in your car is the equivalent of rolling the dice. Only this time, when your luck runs out you’ve just handed a lethal weapon to a criminal.

Don’t do it.

— Albuquerque Journal