Rick, let me be clear.

First, I'm glad you came here for two reasons. It shows you are trying to do things the right way and this board is a treasure trove of information. I would much rather see people research what they want to do before doing it. Which you show you are doing. The other is that by asking, you know you may not have the best answer. Again, the great people here are always more than willing to help. So, kudos to you for asking.

I am also glad you researched the legalities of securing your weapon in your truck. Yes, there are places where you would be responsible for any damages if you left a gun in your truck, particularly if it was loaded. Then again, if it wasn't loaded, what good would it do you besides being a good rock to throw?

I apologize if you thought I was calling you a criminal. That was not my intent. I do know the state of the world we live in. It is very sad in may places indeed. One of the reasons people feel they need protection (other than being a criminal themselves) is if they often find themselves in some of these places. My question then is, why go there? There's a reason cops, guards and armored trucks carry weapons, they have to protect things of value and more importantly, they don't have any control over who or what they may meet. I do. I will not go to these places and put myself in such danger. That's why I don't see a reason for carrying a weapon.

If you choose to, that's your business and I applaud you for trying to do it the best way possible.

Here's another thought for you guys that feel that carrying a weapon is needed. If you were to find yourself in a situation where your weapon was actually needed, could you use it? Could you honestly convince yourself that your life was more important than the person you were about to shoot (and probably kill)? How could you be sure? How would you deal with that after the fact? How would you justify that you killed another human being?

Sorry for digressing, again. Really Rick, kudos to you for asking and shame on me for hijacking your thread. That really wasn't my intent. I was merely trying to help by pointing out the possible legalities of storing a weapon in your truck. The other comments just came out because I don't understand the reasons for carrying a weapon in the first place.

So here's my help. Find the strongest box possible with the best lock possible and make sure it is bolted directly to the frame or someplace where it couldn't be removed without a great deal of effort. I say bolt it in because cables can be cut. Just ask any competitive bicycle racer (I used to be one) how many bikes they know of that were stolen when they were locked with the best of cables.

-Gonzo