Firearms Stolen From Cars Estimated At 77,000 in 2020

The number of guns stolen from cars has skyrocketed in the past decade and accounts for the majority of firearm thefts in the U.S., says a study from the gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety. Everytown found that in 2020, an estimated 77,000 guns were reported stolen across the U.S., The Hill reports. The study used FBI crime data from 2011 to 2020 and analyzed data from 271 small- to large-size cities across 38 states. Memphis leads the nation with the highest rate of gun thefts from cars, with 193.6 per 100,000 people. Memphis is followed by several other southern cities: Chattanooga, Tn., Columbia S.C., and Warner Robins, Ga.

Everytown called for all states to adopt gun safety laws that require firearms to be securely stored and not visible when left unattended in cars. Only 15 states require gun owners to report lost or stolen guns, the nonprofit organization said. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice approved a bill last month that makes it legal for drivers to carry loaded firearms in their motor vehicles.