Every day in America, nearly 130 people are killed with guns and more than 200 are shot and wounded. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for children - surpassing cancer and car crashes. This is not theoretical. It is not far away. It is happening here, in our communities.

As a prosecutor, I made it a priority to pursue cases involving stolen firearms because we know the truth:

Roughly 200,000 guns are stolen every year in America. A large share are taken from vehicles. In many cities, cars are the single biggest source of stolen guns.

And Virginia carries a troubling distinction: three of the top ten cities in America for guns stolen from cars per capita.

Let’s be clear. We must protect the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. But rights come with responsibility. And when we ignore basic firearm safety, innocent people pay the price.

The solution is not complicated. A simple, nationwide expectation: Do not leave firearms in vehicles overnight. Take your firearm with you. Secure it properly. Do not turn your car into an easy target. Because when a gun is stolen from a car, you don’t know where it ends up - until it ends a life. A professor. A child. A neighbor.

We can prevent this. And we should.