Gregory Kielma • July 24, 2025
They’re Coming for Your Car: The Alarming Rise in Gun Thefts from Vehicles
They’re Coming for Your Car: The Alarming Rise in Gun Thefts from Vehicles
By Jacob Paulsen
There’s a new front in the fight to protect your firearms—and it’s parked in your driveway.
According to a major new study from the Council on Criminal Justice, criminals are shifting their focus from breaking into homes to breaking into vehicles to steal guns. From 2018 to 2022, gun thefts from cars rose 31%, while residential gun thefts actually declined.
This isn’t just a trend. It’s a warning—and a call to action for responsible gun owners.
Gun-Free Zones: The Real Public Safety Threat
We’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating gun-free zones make people less safe.
And now, we’re seeing another layer to that danger. When you’re forced by law to disarm before entering a post office, courthouse, school, or private business, what happens to your gun? For millions of law-abiding Americans, the answer is: it gets left in the car.
But the moment that gun is out of your immediate control, it becomes a target—and criminals know it.
From Homes to Automobiles: What the Data Shows
• Between 2018 and 2022, gun thefts from parking lots and garages climbed from 8.4 to 14.2 per 100,000 people.
• Gun thefts from roads and alleys increased from 5.6 to 8.0 per 100,000.
• Residential thefts fell from 54.6 to 46.2 per 100,000 over the same period.
Estimates for 2019–2021 were interpolated since CCJ only gave 2018 and 2022 exact values
Perhaps most shocking: in 2022, nearly 1 in 11 vehicle break-ins involved a gun. That’s up from just 1 in 20 in 2018. If this trend has continued beyond the study period to today, we’re likely seeing 10–11% of all vehicle break-ins now resulting in stolen firearms.
Bad guys are smart. They know that a car in the parking lot of a government building or stadium might just have a gun in the glove box. And that’s exactly where they’re looking.
Hard Truth: You Can't Stop All Theft—But You Can Stop Making It Easy
Let’s be blunt. If your firearm ends up in the hands of a criminal because you left it loose in the console or tossed under the seat, that’s on you.
We don’t support laws that mandate how you store a firearm in your private vehicle. But we do believe in something far more powerful than mandates: moral responsibility.
We can’t stop all gun theft, but we don’t have to make it easy. We don’t have to make it abundantly available.
And we don’t have to live with the guilt of knowing our firearm was used in a crime because we failed to do the right thing.
Best Practices for Securing a Gun in a Vehicle
Here’s what responsible gun owners do:
Use a Dedicated Vehicle Safe
The glove box is not secure. A high-quality console vault or vehicle-specific gun safe is the gold standard.
Bolt or Cable Lock It to the Frame
If your safe isn’t bolted down or tethered, it’s a smash-and-grab away from being gone in seconds.
Hide It
Avoid placing the safe in plain view or under a window. Out of sight = less of a target.
Never Leave a Gun in a Car Overnight
Every hour it’s left in the vehicle increases the chance of theft. Make retrieval a part of your routine.
Park Wisely
Look for well-lit, high-visibility spots. Avoid secluded areas, alleys, and low-traffic garages.
Ditch the Gun Stickers
We love our Second Amendment—but a “Molon Labe” bumper sticker or gun brand decal makes your car a glowing target for thieves.
Final Word: Protect Yourself. Protect the 2A.
Every gun stolen from a vehicle has the potential to be used in a robbery, a carjacking, or a murder. And while criminals bear the ultimate responsibility for their actions, we bear the responsibility for how we store our tools of liberty.
Don’t make it easy for them.
Take stock of your vehicle security plan. Tighten it up.
About Edward Bailey: Why We Should Support Edward Bailey for Manatee County Commissioner, District 2
Why We Should Support Edward Bailey for Manatee County Commissioner, District 2
John Dunn: A Grassroots Candidate Enters the Manatee County Commission Race
DOJ Announces Rulemaking Package Aimed At Protecting Second Amendment Freedoms
Why Every Home Should Have a Firearm for Personal Protection
3d Printed Firearms What are They and Are they Legal? Let's take a look
Being Prepared for the 2026 Hurricane Season By Gregory Kielma, Tactical K Training & Firearms The 2026 Hurricane Season is shaping up to be another year where preparation isn’t optional it’s essential. Florida has seen record heat, rising insurance pressures, rapid population growth, and increasingly unpredictable storm behavior. None of that is meant to create fear. It’s meant to reinforce a simple truth: preparedness gives you control, confidence, and options when the weather turns. Whether you’re protecting a home, a business, or a family, the goal is the same build layers of readiness before the first storm forms. Start With Awareness and a Plan Storms don’t give you time to “figure it out later.” Your plan should be written, practiced, and known by everyone in the household or workplace. Key elements of a solid plan: Where will you go if evacuation becomes necessary Multiple routes out of your area A communication plan if cell networks fail A designated out‑of‑state contact A plan for pets, elderly family members, and anyone with medical needs For businesses, include: Who secures the building Who handles digital backups Who communicates closures and reopening A plan removes panic. It replaces it with action. Strengthen Your Home or Business Before the First Storm Florida structures take a beating every year. Small improvements now prevent major losses later. Exterior protection: Inspect your roof for loose shingles or soft spots Clear gutters and drainage paths Trim trees and remove dead limbs Install or test shutters Reinforce garage doors—one of the most common failure points Interior protection: Surge protection for critical electronics Elevate valuables and important documents Know how to shut off water, power, and gas If you own a business, walk your property as if you were a storm: What can break? What can blow away? What can flood? Fix those points now. Build a Realistic, Usable Supply Kit For Your Home or Business A hurricane kit isn’t about stockpiling, it’s about independence. After a major storm, help may take hours or days to reach your area. For homes and families: Water: 1 gallon per person per day (minimum 3–7 days) Non‑perishable food Medications and medical supplies Flashlights, headlamps, and batteries Battery bank for phones First aid kit Copies of important documents Cash in small bills Tools, gloves, tarps, duct tape For businesses: Backup power for essential systems Printed employee contact lists Hard copies of insurance documents A plan for securing inventory and equipment Preparedness isn’t about fear it’s about not being dependent on luck. Protect Your Digital Life In 2026, digital readiness is just as important as physical readiness. Back up important files to the cloud and an external drive Photograph your home, business, and valuables for insurance Store digital copies of IDs, insurance policies, and receipts Keep chargers, power banks, and a small solar panel if possible When the power goes out, your digital preparation keeps you moving. Understand Post‑Storm Safety Most injuries happen after the storm, not during it. Be cautious with: Downed power lines Flooded roads Carbon monoxide from generators Unstable structures Contaminated water If you evacuated, don’t rush home. Wait for official clearance. Your safety comes first. Mindset: Prepared, Not Paranoid Preparedness is a discipline, not a reaction. It’s the same mindset we teach in every Tactical K class awareness, planning, and responsible action. A hurricane is a natural event. Your response is a choice. When you prepare early, you protect: Your family Your property Your business Your peace of mind And you set an example for your community. Kielma’s Parting Shot The 2026 Hurricane Season will bring challenges, just like every season. But Floridians are resilient, and preparation is part of our way of life. Start now. Strengthen your home, your business, and your plan. Build your layers of safety before the first storm forms. If you need help building a plan, creating a checklist, or preparing your family or business, Tactical K Training is here to support you with practical, real‑world guidance.
Why You Should Never Travel Through High Water
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking Nine Firearms, Including to Buyer Who Said He Was ‘At War’ Thursday, April 30, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia WASHINGTON - Brandon Smith, 34, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison for conspiring to traffic at least nine firearms to a prohibited buyer over the course of six months, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Brandon Smith was already on supervised probation for a violent felony when he chose to traffic firearms, and he continued even after being told the buyer intended to use them for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Over the course of six months, he arranged the sale of at least nine guns—including one with an obliterated serial number—to a prohibited individual. This was not a momentary lapse in judgment, but a sustained and deliberate effort to arm someone who could not legally possess firearms. My office remains committed to holding accountable those who endanger our communities by trafficking illegal guns.” On Jan. 9, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty before Judge Howell to conspiracy to commit trafficking in firearms. In addition to the 87-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 108-month prison term. According to court papers, beginning in November 2023, ATF opened an investigation after a confidential source reported that Smith, then on supervised probation for a violent felony, was actively advertising firearms for sale by texting photographs of guns to prospective buyers, including individuals with prior felony convictions. During the next six months, Smith sold or arranged the sale of nine firearms to a buyer on six separate occasions. During the transactions, Smith sold his own personal carry firearm on multiple occasions when a supplier failed to deliver, then purchased a replacement for himself afterward. In early January 2024, as Smith and the buyer discussed an upcoming transaction, the buyer told Smith he needed the firearms because he was “at war” after his cousin had been killed. Smith proceeded with the sale. The buyer had also told Smith he was serving a criminal justice sentence at the time of the transactions. Smith acknowledged that he, too, was “on papers.” Smith arranged a total of six transactions from Nov. 30, 2023, through May 30, 2024, resulting in the sale of nine firearms. At least one of the firearms had its serial number obliterated. On Oct. 26, 2024, MPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the 1600 block of 16th Street SE and found Smith in the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle. Officers observed open containers of alcohol and discovered a satchel at his feet. Inside the satchel, in plain view, was a loaded Glock Model 19X 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber and 16 additional rounds in the magazine. The bag also contained a bank card and government-issued identification in Smith’s name. Smith has prior convictions for Simple Assault (2011), Attempted Robbery (2013), and Robbery and Possession of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence (2016), for which he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was serving a term of supervised probation from the 2016 conviction at the time of the firearms trafficking conspiracy. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan. Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking
