Is Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey’s parking lot gun bill good news for permit holders or car thieves? Ramsey’s bill will render an otherwise useless handgun permit to be beneficial for those who have parking lot restrictions, but it will be heavily dependent on gun owners learning to leave their guns unattended responsibly.

You can tell a lot about a driver by the appearance of their vehicle these days. It is a safe bet that a large truck decorated with a Glock logo and an NRA bumper sticker has a driver who is packing heat.

By the stick figure family window decal, honor roll stickers and baby on board sunshades, a criminal can possess vital information about the vehicle’s owner simply by visual inspection. While our cars often express the character of their driver, they may also advertise to criminals about their contents.

Although theft-from-motor-vehicle rates have declined since 2009, there were still 32,903 last year in Tennessee (237 from church parking lots). As responsible gun owners, we are responsible for our weapons at all times. We have a moral responsibility, although not always a legal one, to keep our guns out of criminal hands. Thieves steal and Murphy’s Law is real.

When we are forced to leave our gun unattended in our vehicle, the absolute last thing we want to do is draw attention to it with advertising stickers and signs. A better alternative is to covertly store them in a car that will not stand out from the crowd.

It is also a responsible practice to disable the gun by removing parts or ammunition from it, if it is going to be left unattended for a long period of time. Should Ramsey’s bill pass, let’s celebrate and enjoy our new concession discreetly.

MATT BARR

Kingsport