Pocket pistol in the house or out. As the saying goes, "if you are going to carry a firearm, carry all the time or not at all". I know its Hollywood but I just watched "Edge of Darkness" on disc and the Boston cop depicted in the movie kept his handgun under a cake dome in the kitchen. Let's just say it wasn't close enough when it counted.
A funny line (I think the only one) in the brutal movie depicted in Massachusetts was when the Boston police detective gives back a handgun to a young man who's life is being threatened. The young man says "hey, I thought you said this gun was illegal in Massachusetts." Cop's wry response, "EVERYTHING is illegal in Massachusetts!"