As an ardent supporter of 2nd ammendment rights, and an avid gun enthusiast myself, this news saddens me. To me the lack of common sense is the biggest enemy to our 2nd ammendment rights. As gun owners (and retailers) we have to protect our rights like they are made of the finest gold or material. We know that those who appose gun rights are looking for any reason to attack, and to use public opinion against us. To allow ANY chance that our guns can easily be stolen is beyond unexusable. I get that the fire marshal required a new lock, but when that lock was put on you should have had ways to secure your firearms. If they were just displayed on the wall for anyone to get at, that is a problem. I realize that I do not know the full story, nor do I know this shop owner (as I frequent other shops), but to me this seems avoidable. I have an equal problem with gun owners that do not have a secure way to lock a gun when they leave it in their car, or a way for them to secure their AR's, shotguns and rifles at home, so a burglar can come in an steal them. At least with a home owner there is a chance that a burglar doesn't know you have guns to steal, but a gun store? I would think that anyone who sells guns in our community should be held to a high standard. They should be locked in safes or at least not easily accessed in a way that people could make off with all of these guns in 4-5 minutes. Avoidable...sad.

I would check the security alarm guy, why would he set the timer for 45 minutes? If he is that stupid, I don't want him doing my alarm system.

Shouldn't higher-risk businesses like this one be required to have additional security measures in place by city/county ordinance? For example - retractable steel bars beyond the glass front? That would at least slow a thief down. Such special/similar requirements are in place for liquor stores, adult material stores and, adult entertainment businesses. Why wouldn't local government consider such an ordinance for legal arms retailers? Even the UPS Store in Grayson has a retractable security system protecting it's printers/copiers as it offers 24-hour access to its mailbox customers. Not only from a local government standpoint, but you would also think a gun shop owner would have exercised better security measures.

I would blame both the fire marshall's advice and definately the alarm company- why even have a delay setting for 45 minutes? 45 seconds is too much delay. Of course the gun grabbers will use this as an excuse for banning guns but as usual if criminals want something they will try to get it one way or another. I hope they get caught and all the guns are kept out of the wrong hands.

See how stupid the Democrats are? They push to ban guns, only to increase demand and now people are running wild for guns, including stealing them.

I would sue the fire marshal for forcing him to make his shop accessible to crooks.

Unfortunately - with the looming threats of registration/taxation/seizure, you'll be seeing a lot more of these crimes. I guarantee those guns will never be registered, taxed or seized by the Government.

And just what kind of SOLUTION does WASHINGTON have when such as this happens.......

There Goes The Neighborhood

I'm in Agreement with Todd M if the Conn. shoter had to deal with a lock first most likely the whole incident never would have happened.

was the owner aware of and Did Owner agree to 45 minute delay to record camera. If he did this would have me asking him questions. Also when the lock was changed bars should have been modified so could not reach in to open door after breaking glass.

So much for gun controls and background check

dam right good choice

This is hysterical. Think Billy Bob and Bubba Lee can track them thar rifles down or were they they culprits?

Jewelry stores lock up all their inventory at night. It may not be physically possible to lock-up all the guns at night - but to have them secured with a locking system seems common sense. There are a lot of blunders on this one...each compounded to make this an easy target... Hope other gun shops take this as a case study. I don't want the gov't having any more reasons to crack down on legal gun owners...

This is the first time I`ve heard of a gun store closing an leaving their gun out in display cases an racks.The gun stores i know always lock their guns in safes I though that the FFA required that of a gun store if not your insurance company should.

Probably an inside job. The lock, the camera delay and the shipment of guns had to be someone with the knowledge of what was going on. They just couldn't have been that lucky, but looks like they were.

Well sure funny how he did,nt really have them locked up very good.All the Gun store where I live Have real good System and all guns all locked wherer you would have to cutt every gun loose

Hopefully anti gun thieves took them and are going to destroy them and not have them out in the public in the wrong hands AGAIN!!!!

Guess we need more background checks on video camera installers. Maybe the finstien 2nd amendment ban might help the background check on the thiefs....

This is simple, it was staged by the anti-gun lobby.

Everyone should be worried about this. Even if the crooks could get into the shop-these guns should have been secured and locked. Everyone is to blame for this, the Fire Marshall, the alarm guy (who I'm not so sure he's not in on it-who triggers an alarm for 45 minutes after the fact?) and yes, the shop keeper. They are all negligent, and should all be held accountable. In the meantime-a boat load of weapons are in the wrong hands.

Most gun stores that I know of take their guns off of display at the end of the day and lock them up in numerous high security fire safes that are bolted to the floor and weigh at least 5000 pounds. I don't know why this business wouldn't do the same, or why the fire marshal would have made him change the locks system he had when it is a commercial dwelling. And why not test the security camera system once a month at least??

Most gun stores that I know of take their guns off of display at the end of the day and lock them up in numerous high security fire safes that are bolted to the floor and weigh at least 5000 pounds. I don't know why this business wouldn't do the same, or why the fire marshal would have made him change the locks system he had when it is a commercial dwelling. And why not test the security camera system once a month at least??

Things that make you say "Hmmmm"
How'd the burglars know the shipment was coming in? If the main purpose of the camera is to video anyone breaking in, why would you have a 45 minute delay?
If the camera was to activate with movement, how could the installer think a 45 minute delay would be appropriate? 45 minutes is enough time for an[ [amateur] burglar to get in find what they want, leave and sell whatever was stolen. I think they need Sherlock Holmes for this one! That owner to me is very suspect!

I am sure the nitwits will say this wouldn't happen if you ban guns.
Banning alcohol sure worked. The war on drugs sure has worked.

OK, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ANOTHER "GUN CONTROL" FAIL!!!!! THIS IS THE WAY THAT THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT GETS GUNS!!!! "GUN CONTROL" WORKS ONLY IF THE FIREARMS ARE OBTAINED LEGALLY!!!! IN THIS INSTANCE, THE BAD BOYS GOT WHAT THEY WANTED WITHOUT ANY BACKROUND CHECKS, INTERVIEWS, OR LICENSES!!!! BUT OUR LIBERAL/RADICAL PRESS & POLITICIANS TURN BLIND EYES & DEAF EARS TO THOSE FACTS!!!!

Sounds like an inside job to me. Also, no one in there right mind is going to plan a robbery like that in one night, the "crooks" had to pf known about the shipment coming in before hand, not just seen it being delivered. Also the "accidental" 45 min delay on the camera.... sound like it was on purpose. The gun owner... every shop I've been into has a system that they lock up all guns when closing up shop for the day, what gun shop owner leaves them all out on display, either a crooked one or a lazy one. Either way it sounds inside to me, the "crooks" knew the shipment was there and that the guns wouldnt be locked up obviously. Shop owner, security manager and and shipment supplier need to be checked out in my opinion.

LIBERALS THREAT OF BANNING ASSAULT WEAPONS ? HAVE PUT 5 MILLION MORE AR 15 ON THE STREETS IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS.. HOW MANY AR 15 ON THE STREETS TOTAL ?? 25 MILLION ?? BANNING THEM IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE SCHOOL SHOOTING PROBLEM...

According to the NRA the more guns that are out there the safer we are. Also accordingly the 2nd amendment everyone should be free to carry guns so what's the big deal they were just enforcing their 2nd amendment. Right????

This just solidifies the fact that Criminals will not obey Gun Laws no matter how you restrict them. Criminals do not buy their guns, they steal them. It isnt the guns, it is the Society that needs reigned in.

I don't believe I trust this report. In a CCTV system there is typically a Pre-motion setting which saves to disk beginning this period before motion is detected and a Post-motion setting which ends recording for this period after motion ceases to be detected. It would not make any sense at all to have a delay after motion is detected before recording.

Lets set the record straight the store owner is a scumbag liar. His alarm magically is faulted, this idiot never tested his alarm to make sure it works, nothing like an actual robbery to find fault. This guy is a LIAR, he has dangerous merchandise and it is taken the same day it arrives..who did he hand the invoice to? How big is his insurance policy and who collects? Add to it a lock that someone can stick their hands through a window and unlocked guns..hmmm I hope this JACKHAT IS SHOT WITH HIS MERCHANDISE serve him right.

Relsom exactly a delay of any type defeats the purpose of security and who the heck has a 45 minute delay as an option. Then to say he is cooperating with authorities, just like he cooperated with the robbers.

This is terrible - the lack of physical security for these weapons. I wonder if the posters on hear screaming about the shop owner had anything to say about the 2,000 guns delivered to Mexican drug gangs as a result of Fast and Furious - probably not.....

I always locked my business doors with keys on both sides, this makes the burglar go back out the same way he came in. I also locked and bolted my roll up door to prevent someone getting equipment out without some major inconvenience. I never had a problem with the Fire Marshall, I just had to add a sign that said "door must remain unlocked during store hours".

This story should not be about the guns stolen buy how they were stolen. This has got to be an inside job. The guns should have been locked in an alarmed reinforced cabinet when the store is closed or there needs to be a armed Security Officer on duty. I worked as a Security Officer and Manager for 15 years so I am at a loss as to how the access to the store could be so easy, trying to blame the fire marshal is lame at best. I believe the alarm was not on when the thieves broke in, but was set off as the left to make it look like a normal break in. This looks like a Insurance scam by the owner. I understand there was a Security Officer on duty in the parking lot, was he sleeping or in on the robbery? I hope the police do a background check on the owner this guy to me is a prime suspect.

Insurance scam or a way to sell on the black market for triple the cost.

Who knows, maybe the thieves ar performing a public service by stealing the guns before they find their way legally into another household -- after all, privately owned guns kept in a home for protection against potential "bad guys" are more likely to be used to kill a family member or friend than a "bad guy", not to mention the children that are killed or injured accidentally.

Was it an inside job? Within hours of the delivery the "burglars" arrive? The lock was changed for safety reasons, making a break-in easier. The loss is now a tax write-off to the tune of at least $75K, plus damages.

I agree with Todd up above....but I'd also like to point out that those guys could not have cleaned out the store in 4 minutes. The fact the weapons were NOT under lock and key says alot.. Sounds like the owner should be investigated. If not the local police perhaps the insurance company could determine how a weapons dealer was hit the day the guns were delivered and why it was so easy to burglarize a weapons store in 4 minutes? Just wondering......

I am also a supporter of the 2nd Amendment, but this reeks of inside job. Too many coincedences for it not to be. I don't want to blame the owner outright, but someone who is employed there was involved for it to happen this soon after an influx of weapons, quickly accessing the store and removing the weapons as fast as they did. there doesn't seem to have been enough time for an outsider to plan this kind of breakin and be as successful as it was. the clincher is the camera security system. who was responsible for the settings for recording or the system administrator.

Sure sounds like an inside job to me.

I really hate this for David. He took a chance opening a store on this side of town, and I'm glad we have him. Yes, he should have checked out the surveillance system functionality before it mattered (and I am sure he will be filing a claim with the company's E&O carrier), and yes, he should have figured out a way to secure the front door after the fire marshall required a change of the interior lock, but I'm sure David feels terrible about what has happened, and he will likely pay a hefty price in insurance deductible and premiums going forward. I have a hard time believing this would be an "inside job" when guns are flying off the shelves thanks to unconstitutional threats from our President and members of Congress. Piling on David doesn't help anything at this point. Sadly, though, the criminal element in our county may have just become better armed, so that is another reason to carry and take training classes (Dead Center and Trigger Time both offer classes). As an extension, I would also recommend families talk through a disaster/defense plan. There are some things you just cannot defend against, and for those instances, I have to say, "let's go meet Jesus." But I don't think it's unreasonable to have a plan for a few guys kicking in your door and coming in to rob you. God bless, and Happy New Year!

Been there. Good store, good people. I will support their businesses more from now on till they get through this. My business has gone through this same thing many times. You can't stop someone determined to break the law. I have put in some very extreme security measures in my building and the theives did way more damage to my building than what they stole. Hell, I'd just assumed give them what they took instead of them destroying my building.

I can't comment on weather this was an inside job or not but there were a whole lot of things this store did wrong for this kind of theft to happen.

The damn Dems took them, most criminals are in fact registered democrats.....BTW, most places lock up the weapons in vaults after closing time, even if it means closing a little earlier or staying 15-30 overtime.....

What a bunch of dumb asses. Anyone who thinks video would help has to believe that they were not wearing masks. Dumb. All we would know is how many and shown the video to the world so they could learn how to clear the store in less than four minuets.

As for a glass door on a gun shop.........that goes beyond stupid.

But it would not have mattered. I have had my store robbed twice.
They just cut a hole in the roof.

Better check eric holder's crib. Course, he usually deals in larger quanities...

As a veteran and a rifleman in my VFW Honor Guard and someone who proudly has two military shooting ribbons, one for a rifle and one for a handgun, I also have my carry permit. I agree, it is the criminals and whackos that are hurting us honest citizens and now are making us fight to keep our second amendment right to own a gun and protect ourselves and our family. I see the caos going on in Mexico where the average citizen cannot buy a gun yet drug cartels have fully automatic weapons, Mexico has had more innocent citizens killed in the last 5 years than Americans lost in the Vietnam war. As a veteran I will defend the 2nd amendment rights of the honest law abiding citizen to own a gun, my Honor Guard rifle is an M-1 grand which I have clearence to keep at home, it shoots blanks but can shoot live ammo too. I must keep it locked in a gun safe behind a locked door. My personal gun I keep on my night stand until I leave the house then it goes into my holster, it is no longer safe to go to a mall, see a movie or drop the kids off at school anymore without being protected.

Sounds like someone had a plan together, and someone didn't.

If I were investigating, I'd grill everyone who worked in that shop on any job in the past few weeks. It's possible that it's just a lot of coincidences, but after a point that seems unlikely. None of the lacking "security measures" make sense in isolation, much less taken together. I'm sure the police will be checking into all that, and I wish them luck.

Well reading these posts are enlightening, but my thoughts are that any gun owner is responsible for securing their weapons properly and gun laws are for the innocent not the criminals. They will get guns in other ways, you put more bans on weapons your just hurting the innocent. The majority of gun related crimes the guns were not purchased through dealers. Yes this owner could have secured his inventory better and checked his system but how many of you check your security systems weekly like the owners manual tells you to do? The 45 min delay was wrong and should be looked into. I think common sence plays more of a roll in gun control than one persons opinion.

With the threat of of American citizens becoming unarmed, you will see the "prohibition" attitude take place. Fear, greed, and law abiding citizens becoming outlaws.

There's regular glass on the door of a place that sells weapons????

...and why did it take so long for the police to show up? This entire story is amazing! How did these guys know that they could get into this place just by breaking the glass? How did they know that the camera was on a 45 minute delay? How did they know it would take sooooo long for the cops (or anyone for that matter) to arrive? Those were some very lucky crooks!!

INSIDE JOB!!

Police arrived ****four minutes**** after getting the call, until Capt Kirk gets the transporter fixed that's DARN impressive response time...

Proving once again when seconds count, even the best and brightest government response is a mere minutes away.

It's kind of like a pharmacy, only weapons. There's got to be better security to install in a place like that. Definately following the investigation on this one.

Todd M., I was reading what you said. A thought came to my mind. When in Walmart, you can't even purchase a camera or a Cd without someone removing an individual lock with an alarm on it. You are so right in your assessment.

I just hope and pray it wasn't teens that took these guns. That's all we need another Connecticut shooting in our home town.

Wow, this scares me! I live less then a mile from the store in question and to think I have so many naïve and simple minded people living in close proximity to me and my family will have me constantly looking over my shoulder. Musketball boy- the second amendment was meant to put the citizenry on par and equal to soldiers (not artillery men or other special weapon units so don't go there) but largely the folks that would be the tools of a tyrannical government. They are absolutely needed and necessary, and as a quote attributed to T. Jefferson one said "The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it".

Just goes to show that criminals will get guns at any cost even if they have to steal them. I just watched a show about the drug cartels in Mexico, a country where the citizens can only have low caliber guns that must be approved by the government and only one per household, they cannot buy assault weapons and machine guns are outlawed completely. A country that has also had more innocent citizens killed by guns in the last 5 years nearly 70,000 that the US had combat deaths during the entire Vietnam war. Deaths from fully automatic AK-47, in fact one of the men the reporter was talking to said that he could get her a fully automatic AK-47 with two full clips for $1,000 US dollars no questions asked. So even if the US banned every kind of gun in the states criminals would be able to buy them, we would only disarm the honest law abiding citizens. I believe if that ever happened there would be even more guns because there would be a demand for them and we cannot stop millions of illegals from coming across the border or stop all the tons of drugs coming across we would not stop guns from coming across either.