How many guns must be stolen from cars before we get a plan? | Opinion

If I asked you how many guns are stolen from cars in Milwaukee over a year, what would your guess be?

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A report from the Council on Criminal Justice puts the number at 1,228 in 2022, according to the latest data available. Over a five year period, the number of gun thefts from vehicles varied, but the trend was rising: 627 in 2018; 643 in 2019; 1,099 in 2021; and 1,419 in 2021.

What’s especially concerning is that this is only reported cases. Stolen guns represent the ultimate instance of firearms falling into the "wrong hands" as they are often involved in other crimes.

I first learned about the scope of the problem just before co-moderating the March 7 “Behind the Gun: Milwaukee Gun Owners Safety Summit” at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple with my colleague John Diedrich. One of the objectives of the event was to find common ground on an extraordinarily divisive topic.

The summit featured four panelists: three gun owners and a minister who was the victim of gun violence. The panelists, and the audience, were stunned by the high number of guns stolen from cars and expressed a desire to understand why the public is not more informed about this issue.

"Why is it a secret? Everybody should know this information," said Eddie Silas, co-owner of Prolific Arms gun store.

He's absolutely right. And when you have this information, the next thing you want to know is what's being done about it.

The answer is not reassuring.

After a recent spate of violence, Mayor Cavalier Johnson called on state and federal lawmakers to do more to get guns off the street. He's not wrong, but he also knows that is not happening anytime soon. Instead of passing the buck, the mayor and council need to get to work on something they can help control: reducing the number of guns stolen from vehicles.

Majority of stolen guns in Milwaukee taken from cars

The June 2025 report from CCJ showed that stolen firearms play a significant role in violent crimes, translating into roughly 2 to 3 guns stolen from cars each day. The issue of guns stolen from vehicles extends beyond Milwaukee; it is a nationwide concern.

Over the past decade, the rate of guns stolen from cars in the U.S. has tripled, making them the largest source of stolen firearms in the country, according to an analysis of FBI data conducted by the gun safety group Everytown.

On average, at least one gun is stolen from a car in the U.S. every nine minutes. However, only one-third of U.S. states (17) require individuals to report lost or stolen firearms to law enforcement. As a result, thousands of missing guns go unreported each year. In Wisconsin, there is no legal requirement for individuals to report a stolen gun.

According to FBI data, the rate of guns stolen from cars has increased almost every year and spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. This rise coincided with a surge in gun purchases in the U.S. and a record number of cars being stolen.

City leaders should stop pointing fingers and take action

Shootings are wreaking havoc on Milwaukee. Earlier this month, two people were killed, and six were shot. Police said they have persons of interest in custody related to the shootings.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson told Channel 58 that the gun violence was frustrating and asked lawmakers for help, noting that many shootings resulted from heated arguments, and many people believe the only way to resolve these disputes is by using firearms.

He emphasized that he does not want government officials to target law-abiding gun owners. However, he stated, “When someone gets into an argument and thinks the solution is to shoot the other person, that’s not someone who should have access to a gun.”

Johnson added that neither the state nor the federal government has a solution to keep citizens safe. But why do we have to wait for the state or federal government to act when Milwaukeeans are being shot in hospitals, outside of bars, or in their neighborhoods nearly every day?

Gun owners need to properly secure firearms in vehicles

Why can’t the city launch a series of public service announcements that highlight the dangers of leaving guns in vehicles, emphasizing the importance of not leaving firearms unattended and educating citizens on why reporting a stolen gun matters?

During the safety summit, a consistent theme emerged: citizens overwhelmingly agreed on the importance of increasing gun safety training for owners and enhancing safe storage practices. This is crucial to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands or being accessed by children.

Most participants also agreed that if guns are kept in cars, they should be securely stored in a lockbox in the trunk or, better yet, removed from the vehicle entirely.

Owning a firearm is not just a right; it carries serious responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly. One of the most negligent behaviors a legal gun owner can make is letting unauthorized people access their weapon. The consequences can be severe, especially if a gun is stolen from a vehicle. If a person is willing to break into a car, it makes sense that they would also be more likely to commit other harmful acts.

Keep in mind that the second most common place for a gun to be stolen is in the home. In 2022, there were 483 guns reported stolen from Milwaukee homes. It's a fair bet those firearms were not in lock boxes or safes.

Guns should never be left unattended in a vehicle, particularly beneath the driver’s seat or within the glove compartment. This caution is especially pertinent in Milwaukee, where there have been 980 reported vehicle thefts as of March 27.

Reducing gun thefts a tangible goal Milwaukee can tackle

While the city has distributed thousands of free gun locks, cable locks may deter a child, but an adult could easily bypass this system. It may be helpful for them to provide free gun lock boxes to residents or at least offer them at a reduced price. Will this prevent all guns from being stolen from cars? No, but these sturdy boxes serve as an additional layer of security, safeguarding firearms against theft and keeping them out of reach of unauthorized hands.

Imagine if we could cut the number of guns stolen from vehicles in half. That would be about 600 fewer guns in the hands of people causing harm in our community. How would fewer stolen guns impact crime numbers in the city? It would be interesting to see.

The city could enact an ordinance that imposes a $1,000 fine and potentially jail time for individuals whose guns are stolen from their cars due to neglecting to secure them properly. The mayor and Milwaukee Common Council could implement an ordinance like this without any debate.

The city must take proactive steps now to save lives rather than wait for lawmakers in Madison to come up with a solution because I’m tired of the bloodshed.

This is our city. We must act to make it safer.

Reach James E. Causey at [email protected]; follow him on X @jecausey