Here's an interesting way that some thieves got caught. The annual Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show, aka "Shot Show," in Las Vegas is a huge gun show open only to people in the shooting, hunting, outdoor industry. That exclusivity may cut down on shoplifting. However, two individuals who had worked as forklift operators during the show may have lifted a few guns.
But here's the thing the thieves may not have known right away. Show rules required all firing pins to have been removed from guns on display. After the thefts were discovered the ATF issued a bulletin advising gun shop owners to be on the lookout for anyone wanting firing pins. And sure enough, a shop owner reported that some customers were looking for firing pins. The ATF located one of the individuals with the license plate number of the vehicle they got in when they left the store.
The requirement that guns at the show be displayed without firing pins may have been for safety reasons, but in this case it served as a tracking device.
Gun thievery is a problem. Last September we talked about that in this blog with reference to some stats that came from Lubbock. The Lubbockonline.com reported that as of September, 2018, there had been 170 firearms stolen from vehicles in the city.
So theft deterrence is a challenge. Perhaps removing the firing pin might at least make a gun inert until repaired. But then it wouldn't stop a thief.
Meanwhile, some links:
2 Las Vegas men charged with stealing guns from SHOT Show
Two Men Stole Guns at SHOT Show. Here’s the Hiccup They Didn’t Anticipate.
Police stress vehicle gun thefts in Lubbock, urge responsibility
Gun owners, don't let your guns slip into the criminal market.
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3:42 PM 2/18/2019
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