WHEREAS, law enforcement executives continue to be alarmed by the magnitude of firearms that are being reported stolen (estimated at 380,000 per year in the United States) which become easily accessible to and used by criminals placing both citizens and law enforcement officers at great danger; and

WHEREAS, according to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), during the four-year period from 2012 to 2016, 22,000 guns were stolen from gun stores and during this same period robberies of firearms dealers increased by 175% and burglaries of firearms from licensed dealers by 48%, and these crimes are providing the greatest opportunity for thieves to choose their weapons of choice (to include assault rifles and high-powered handguns) at large quantities in one criminal act; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement executives are also alarmed by the number of citizens killed and wounded by firearms as well as the number of officers killed in the line of duty by gunfire; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement executives are alarmed by the growth of and manner in which criminals are stealing firearms from licensed firearms dealers; and

WHEREAS, the IACP has found that law enforcement executives in every part of the United States have expressed concern at the quickness at which stolen firearms are trafficked after the theft into the hands of criminals, terrorists, and other prohibited persons; and

WHEREAS, study and investigation by the IACP’s Firearms Committee has shown that three strategies must be present to thwart firearms thefts from dealers effectively: prevention, intervention, and enforcement; and

WHEREAS, prevention and intervention strategies are dependent upon having engaged firearms dealers with an adequate security plan and systems to protect their stores as well as established partnerships with local law enforcement in their communities and ATF; and

WHEREAS, deterring and apprehending gun store thieves and robbers is predicated on having adequate security measures and systems that will make it extremely difficult for them to steal firearms, have the capability of notifying law enforcement when a theft/robbery is in-progress, video record the theft/robbery event, and expand the duration of time it takes for thefts to transpire thereby providing law enforcement additional response time; and

WHEREAS, examination of gun store burglaries found that enactment of mandatory legislation by states that require licensed gun dealers to have an approved security plan in place in order to sell firearms has shown to reduce thefts to almost none; and

WHEREAS, study and investigation by the IACP’s Firearms Committee found that model legislation should include the following:

• A required “security plan” that must be approved by a designated law enforcement agency
• Storage of all firearms in a “secure facility” that is part of, or constitutes, the license premises to include
  • hardened perimeter doorways; windows; and heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and service openings;
  • metal or concrete vehicle barriers placed opposite exterior doors;
  • an alarm system designated to activate audible alarm as well as automatically transmitting an alert to central location and/or police department;
  • a video camera system; and
  • internal security of firearms and ammunition.

Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police calls upon all 50 states to bring the issue of stolen firearms and in particular burglaries, thefts, and robberies from licensed gun dealers that are commercial retail establishments to a high-priority level as a commitment to combating and decreasing gun violence; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police urges every state to enact legislation that has shown to be effective regarding the mandating of a “security plan and system” for every licensed firearm dealer within their jurisdictions and that such legislation is in the best interest of public and officer safety.