Los Angeles/United States – -(AmmoLand.com)- The revelation that firearms were among items stolen in a recent train robbery in Los Angeles is something Second Amendment supporters should take note of. This isn’t just because it shows that bad guys will break the law to acquire guns that they misuse in the course of committing crimes. Stolen firearms should be seen as a big deal by Second Amendment supporters – it is a private-sector infringement on the right to keep and bear arms.
Why? Well, think about why you bought the firearms you own – or why you want to buy a firearm. It’s a means of personal protection, whether in your home, when you’re away from home on errands, or even when you’re out camping (for those loyal Ammoland readers who are the outdoors types). It’s a means to put food on the table for some people. A firearm can be a tool for recreation activity or even shooting competitions.
When someone steals a firearm, they’re not just taking a piece of property, they’re robbing that person of all that is described above – and possibly more.
Quality firearms are not cheap – just take a look at the latest Blue Book of Gun Values if you don’t want to take my word for it. Coming up with a replacement is hard, and in some cases, the guns in question may be irreplaceable from a sentimental standpoint.
A person whose firearms have been stolen is unable to protect himself until replacements have been secured. That inability to protect oneself can be fatal in certain instances. So a stolen firearm is a huge deal for the individual person who is the victim of a firearms theft.
For a FFL who is victimized by firearms theft, this is the same dynamic that retail stores face when confronting shoplifting. Only in this case, the stolen firearms are probably headed for people who will misuse them to commit various crimes. Either way, addressing those who would steal firearms is something that Second Amendment supporters ought to put up high on the list.
There is good news on that front. A situation like the train robbery in Los Angeles is covered by some already existing laws, 18 USC 922(i) and 18 USC 922(j). Between these two provisions, just about any conduct involving a stolen firearm is covered and can land a perp ten years in jail for each firearm. And we should insist that those provisions be used at the very least.
Second Amendment supporters rightly question the constitutionality of the bulk of the gun laws out there, but when it comes to stolen firearms, the concern should be how to make these penalties tougher. The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s  Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act covers that angle for theft from FFLs, and a similar approach should be taken for thefts from gun owners.
The rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment don’t just need to be protected from government (although anti-Second Amendment extremists at the federal, state, and local levels should be defeated via the ballot box), they need to be protected from those who would steal the means by which people exercise their Second Amendment rights. In this case, laws to address those who would steal firearms are a good thing for us all.
About Harold Hutchison
Writer Harold Hutchison has more than a dozen years of experience covering military affairs, international events, U.S. politics and Second Amendment issues. Harold was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.
Why were these firearms even on a train car parked where they could be stolen? Sounds like a government plan to me.
Your Firearms are your responsibility end of story. When it is on your person should someone try to steal it they should already be talking to god or the devil. Do not leave it in your car do not leave it on the porch do not leave it out and about. Safeguard your weapons or face the consequences. If your home and gunsafe are robbed report it to the police asap. All weapons not in use should be safeguarded Never sell or trade a gun without a ffl Dealer this 25.00 fee protects you from what the next owner does… Read more »
No Harold, judt no. No more. Stolen firearms are not a big deal. Violent crimes committed with firearms in general are a big deal. Take back our inner cities, solve the 99% of the problem that can be solved.
We can always depend on Harold to give ATFBI a lick job.
I got ripped off twice. I felt violated and yes, one of the guns was used in a gang on gang murder. The gang banger that stole it was also, eventually killed. Still, I must say the feds should have nothing to do with it. Shall not infringe is all inclusive. The sheriff found some of the guns and told me so. None were returned. Glad I had insurance but I was still out the deductible, twice. Guns are machinery, guns are property, guns can be expensive and some guns are irreplaceable as heirlooms. Guns have purpose as defensive, sporting… Read more »
All it would take is a memo to abolish the BATFE. I’m thinking the current administration would not do that.