Don’t Take Your Gun or Truck to the Airport

Don’t Take Your Gun or Truck to the AirportA recent article touted the reduction in auto thefts at DIA. From January to April about 100 vehicles were stolen. While I am not sure a little under 1 auto theft a day is something to brag about, it doesn’t consider car break-ins.

I was not able to find statistics on DIA vehicle burglaries other than catalytic converters (over 1,000 stolen at DIA in 2023). However, several clients have reported their trucks being burglarized at DIA. Thieves punch the lock, disable the horn, and then start looking for guns.

The bad guys have figured out that a nice truck usually has a gun. A nice truck with a pro-gun sticker is almost guaranteed to get targeted. Parking in the DIA garage won’t save you. A locked gun box won’t save you, although it may assist if you get criminally or civilly charged. Don’t forget a stolen firearm must be reported within 5 days. If your gun is used in a crime and you didn’t report it stolen, be prepared for hefty legal bills and possibly financial ruin. If the firearm was an unserialized 80% lower finished at home, the phrase damned if you do and damned if you don’t comes to mind.

Taking any nice vehicle to DIA is, sadly, risky these days. Taking your fancy truck and your gun to the airport is a mistake. Don’t do it.

So, you say the only vehicle you have is your fancy truck? Well then, take my truck – a 1994 Chevy S-10. Not only is it old and beat up, but it’s also a stick. In the meantime, you’ve been warned. Don’t take your truck or your gun to the airport.

This column is not legal advice nor does it create an attorney-client relationship with the reader. Due to limited space, complex legal concepts and rules may be stated in terms of general concepts. Based on 2024 Colorado and Federal law. Consult legal counsel before acting on any information contained in this column.