Securing Firearms in Unattended Vehicles: A Responsibility We Must Own
By: Tim Schmidt
Chairman and Co-Founder of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association
The vast majority of gun owners, especially CCW permit holders, have taken steps already to make sure their firearms are securely and responsibly stored in their homes. It’s always essential to ensure that personal firearms can’t be stolen, picked up by a child, or misused in any way. If the statistics from the FBI are to be believed, however, many of these same gun owners are overlooking the importance of being equally vigilant to secure their guns in their vehicles.
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), firearms are frequently stolen from vehicles, raising not only concerns about property loss but also about their potential use in criminal activity. This puts both public safety and gun rights at risk. As responsible gun owners, we have a duty to take every possible step to prevent our firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
That’s why initiatives like Project ChildSafe — a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) — and national awareness events like the NSSF’s Gun Storage Check Week® (June 1-7, 2025) are so critical. They provide clear, practical guidance and public reminders that safe storage is essential, not optional.
The Risks Are Real—and Preventable
The reality is that a parked car, whether it’s locked or not, and whether a firearm is visible or not, is an easy target for thieves. A thin piece of glass is all that separates them from what’s inside.
In many cases, they’ll break in looking for money or valuables and then find an unsecured firearm. In other cases, they can be more deliberate. Many of us at the USCCA have heard stories of thieves tailing gun owners after they leave the range, waiting for the driver to stop at a coffee shop or grocery store on the way home. Once the owners are out of sight, the thieves break in and steal the guns, cases, ammunition, optics, and everything else not bolted down.
And therein lies the central message: Securing your firearm in a vehicle requires more than just locking the doors. It requires securing those firearms in a way that can’t be accessed or removed by any unauthorized person.
What You Can Do Right Now
NSSF and Project ChildSafe have several resources on gun storage, including a “Gun Storage for Your Lifestyle” infographic that discusses options for safe storage in vehicles. There’s also a comprehensive brochure and videos with helpful information as well.
I mention these resources because even if you already take steps to prevent your guns from being stolen, you can still be a powerful voice in the gun-owning community to promote this lifesaving practice. Take the time to share and teach from these tools, and help us ensure that the gun-owning community (rather than organizations opposed to gun rights) owns the firearm safety message.
Protect Your Property, Protect Your Rights
Gun owners are among the most responsible citizens in America — but we must continuously work to uphold that reputation, or we risk undermining our own rights. As we recognize Gun Storage Check Week, I encourage you to take a few moments to check how you’re securing your firearm — especially in your vehicle.
Secure storage is one of the most effective ways to prevent accidental tragedies and firearm theft. It protects our communities, our families, and our rights. By staying vigilant and storing your firearms securely, you’ll help to protect what matters most—your loved ones, your community, and your freedom.
Tim Schmidt is the Chairman and Co-Founder of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association