In some embodiments of the present invention, a lever is actuatable to unlatch a pawl when the lever is in an unlocked position. When the lever is in a locked position, lever actuation cannot unlatch the pawl. An over-center device coupled to the lever can be used to position the lever in its locked and unlocked positions. In these and other embodiments, the lever is moved away from the pawl when the lever is in a locked position and is moved closer to the pawl when the lever is in an unlocked position. In some embodiments, the lever is pivotable about a pivot point that remains in the same location with respect to the lever in the unlocked and locked positions thereof. Although not required, the pawl is preferably movable by the lever to its unlatched state after the partially or fully-actuated lever has been moved to its unlocked state.