To date this yr, about 1,200 weapons have been stolen out of automobiles in Atlanta. However regardless of what suburbanites outdoors the perimeter might inform themselves, that’s not simply an Atlanta drawback. It’s an issue all through the complete state. In keeping with WSB-TV, about 14,000 weapons are stolen in Georgia yearly. And the mayor of Savannah is so sick of it that they’re able to introduce a brand new ordinance that targets irresponsible gun homeowners who go away them of their automobiles unsecured.

“It is a chance to lower the thefts [and the] unlawful firearms. The shootings additionally, we consider, will lower as properly,” Savannah Mayor Van Johnson informed the Savannah Morning Information.

Additionally, to be clear, we’re not precisely speaking about roving bands of criminals breaking random automobile home windows on the off-chance that in the event that they examine the glovebox, they may discover a Sig Sauer. That does occur, however because it seems, the overwhelming majority of weapons stolen out of automobiles have been left in autos that weren’t even locked. The Morning Information stories that of the 176 weapons stolen out of automobiles to this point this yr, 82 p.c have been in unlocked autos. That’s down barely from 2021 and 2022 however nonetheless ridiculously excessive.

Savannah isn’t alone, both. In keeping with WSB-TV, at the very least 266 weapons have been stolen out of autos in Gwinett County, with about two-thirds of them being stolen out of unlocked automobiles. And in Atlanta, police have launched a Clear Vehicles Marketing campaign to encourage residents to not go away valuables in plain sight or go away their weapons of their automobiles. “Assist us aid you and safe your firearms in someplace safe and never in a car,” Juan Madiedo from the Gwinnett County Police Division informed WSB-TV.

So far as the brand new ordinance in Savannah goes, that’s reportedly nonetheless being written, so we don’t have a variety of particulars to share. However along with requiring gun homeowners to safe their weapons inside their automobiles, they’ll additionally should report any stolen or misplaced firearms inside 24 hours. “I feel that is one thing all Georgians, whether or not they’re gun advocates or in favor of gun management have to take fairly critically,” Georgia state legislation professor Timothy Lytton informed WSB-TV.

Even when you don’t dwell in Georgia, we’d argue he’s nonetheless appropriate. You shouldn’t be leaving weapons in your automobiles, however when you insist on having a driving gun to go together with your buying gun, workplace gun, front room gun, kitchen gun, and bed room weapons, on the very least, simply lock your automobile and maintain it out of sight. Please?