John, if you can reach and get it the weapon is considered to be on or about your person. If its loaded it is a concealed deadly weapon. You have received the correct advice. Trigger lock it and put the bullets in another one of your bags and you are good to go. That means it is not deadly unless you do something to it to make it that way.
Also, almost all states are not drive-through states meaning, if you have a permit to carry it, that permit is only good in the state that issued it.
