Congressman Joe Morelle says gun violence is an epidemic in this country, and nearly a third of the guns identified in crimes have been stolen.
So he's introducing a bill that would hold gun store owners more accountable and compel them to fulfill minimum security requirements so their inventory doesn't end up in the wrong hands.
Morelle pointed to Chinappi's gun shop in Parma, which has been burglarized seven times since 2007.
“This doesn't matter which side of the so-called gun debate you're on,” he said. “This is really about making sure that illegal guns don't end up in the hands of criminals. That guns aren't stolen so they don't end up in places that they weren't intended."
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, more than 575 gun shops were burglarized in 2017, a national record and a 70 percent increase from 2013.
The Gun Theft Protection Act would require gun shops to lock up their merchandise, provide video surveillance, and submit to an ATF inspection every three years.
Shops that don’t comply could lose their federal firearms license, which is needed to sell guns.
Fred Calcagno, owner of American Sportsman in East Rochester, said any gun shop owner worth his salt has already met these regulations.
“They're not necessary at this point because all of those regulations are fulfilled by most quality gun stores, and just to apply a law is not going to make one bit of difference," he said.
The bill would also require yearly inspections to "high risk" dealers that have a history of firearms they have sold or lost that have been traced to crimes.
It would also authorize an additional 650 ATF personnel dedicated to dealer inspection and enforcement of the requirements.
Shuane Williams says this legislation is very important to her since she lost her son to gun violence.
“It means a lot to me,” she said. “Ever since my son passed away, the question about how the guns get into our community, is a big issue, big concern."
She said something like the Gun Theft Protection Act could go a long way in slowing down the rate of violence in this community.
Morelle says there’s an epidemic of gun violence in this country and he wants to address the growing instances of gun thefts…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhG2Q8bcL-4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhG2Q8bcL-4