Williams: Lost and stolen guns should factor into gun violence debate
The United States has always been a violent nation. Americans tend to glorify many of its most violent citizens. John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, Jesse James, Al Capone, Billy the Kid, and other notorious cold-blooded killers are easily recognizable names in most households.
Broadcast television series are another source of violence, and many of the dramatic acts depicted in them could be described as severe violence. Researchers also say playing violent video games can increase a person’s aggressive thoughts. They say violent games may be more harmful than violence on television and in movies because they are interactive and require the player to identify with the aggressor.
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Beneath the debate about gun violence, there is an undercurrent of thought that America might be more prone to violence than other industrialized nations. Comparative data confirms that the U.S. does have the edge regarding homicides. Our homicide rate might be considered, comparatively, embarrassing.
But are guns at the crux of the problem? Interestingly, 2020 was a record year for gun sales. The best available numbers estimate that there are approximately 393 million civilian firearms in circulation and an additional 4.5 million held by the military. Law enforcement has another 1.2 million for a total of nearly 399 million guns. If you’re wondering: That’s half the world’s firearms, making America the most armed country on the planet.
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A few weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out several lower court rulings that had upheld gun restrictions, including bans on assault-style rifles in Maryland and large–capacity ammunition magazines in New Jersey and California. The actions of the justices did not sit well with many Americans. Still, the ruling essentially declared for the first time a Constitutional right to carry a handgun in public for self-defense.
North Carolina is an open-carry state meaning it is legal in this state to “open-carry” a firearm if you are at least 18 years old with no felony convictions. The state places no limits on weapon caliber size or magazine capacity.
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However, counties may regulate the display of firearms on public property and designate off-limits areas. Additionally, you may not open-carry on private property or businesses that post “No Weapons” signs.
Much if not all of the political focus has been on gun sales. What hasn’t received attention is the loss and theft of guns. Lost and stolen guns come from two primary sources: gun stores and civilian owners.
Licensed firearm dealers are required to report lost or stolen weapons to local authorities and Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms within 48 hours. Still, there is no requirement for individual gun owners, except in 11 states and the District of Columbia.
An estimated $135 million worth of guns were reported stolen in 2020. North Carolina does not require any reporting of lost or stolen guns by civilians. However, there is a movement by a group, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, to make lost and stolen gun reporting a law.
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The largest source of stolen guns is cars. According to crime data from the FBI, on average, at least one gun is stolen from a car every 15 minutes. Cars parked at residences (driveways, outside homes, etc.) are the most common source of stolen firearms.
Gun violence is a complex problem that demands a wide range of practical solutions, not political pandering.
Troy Williams is a member of The Fayetteville Observer Community Advisory Board. He is a legal analyst and criminal defense investigator. He can be reached at talk2troywilliams@yahoo.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Williams: Lost and stolen guns should factor into gun violence debate
