Also, in states that interpret not carrying as being "out of your scope of reach" while in the vehicle (i.e. "locked trunk."), a locking drawer that goes under your seat will usually count. Even if the officer does do a "Terry frisk" type search of your immediate area for weapons, he cannot look in a locked drawer under the seat of the truck w/out P.C. "Reasonable suspicion" is all he need have to do a check under the seat for weapons, though, TX Lawman (Chimel v. California-- the "wingspan" case).
But, to the original question-- I like old S&W revolvers, for example the 1917 .45 acp. You used to get them, used and loose but very very serviceable, cheap (~$120?), out of an import firm in Brazil, I think it was. Dunno how thick on the ground they are, now. Otherwise, find a cop trade-in 6" M-10 or M-19.
Remember, folks, we have to choose our battles, and we ALL have to leave a gun in the truck occasionally. Otherwise, we go completely unarmed for entire trips, and that, my friends, is very, very un-cool!
Let's kinda tone down the self-righteousness, here-- if Joe Gunowner has shown due diligence to put his pistol out of sight and locked the doors, it takes a Burglary of a Motor Vehicle-- a felony many places-- to get that gun out. Joe may have taken an assigned risk by not putting that pistol in a safe, but he is NOT responsible for a theft of his gun and the consequential actions of the theif. The THIEF is. Some of you sound like the anti-gun lobby, claiming that the gun manufacturers are responsible for the acts of those who commit crimes with the guns they make.
I agree that ole' Joe should lower his risks by not making a habit of leaving the pistol there allllll the time, but come on! Also, as has been noted in this very thread, things are not exactly the same all over-- what may seem a little dumb in downtown Detroit may make perfect sense in Terlingua, TX. (Can I get an affirmation from Brewster County?)
Regards,
L.P.
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Will you, too, be one who stands in the gap?
Matt