Locking Gun Storage, A Necessity For Gun Dealers
Locking Gun storage is a necessity for gun dealers, gun stores, pawn shops, etc. I was reading the other day that it is has been reported that tens of thousands of guns every year are discovered to be missing from inventories of licensed dealers across the country. They may have been stolen, misplaced due to negligent keeping of records, or illegally sold without the proper documentation. The reason is remains unclear. Whatever the reason, this could put the public at great risk if these firearms end up in the hands of the wrong people.
It was reported that missing firearms from gun stores is a large number. Between 2004 and 2011 the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm Agency) reported nearly 175,000 guns were unaccounted for during compliance inspections of gun dealers inventories. It was also reported that only a small percentage (19%) of firearm dealers inventories were inspected in 2012. There are an estimated 60,000 gun dealers within the United States and only an estimated 600 inspectors. So you can see why this is a problem. Gun stores and dealers themselves are not universally opposed to having their inventories checked. However, it is reported that the NRA argues the requirement of (licensed) firearm dealers to maintain and keep an accurate inventory would be an unduly burdensome on law-abiding gun stores and dealers. But on the other side of this issue, the lack of well maintained gun inventories by firearm dealers also makes it very difficult for investigators to trace down a stolen firearm when it is used in a crime.
I guess I can see both sides of this situation. My solution to this problem is a simple one. All gun dealers do their best to keep all of their firearm inventories under lock and key while on display with some sort of locking gun storage device such as lockable gun racks and/or locking gun rooms when not on display.
