sleeping with your gun ...

[justxboxin]

Is it normal and rational thinking to be afraid of all the things going on that you sleep with your carry weapon in your pocket it's a lcp but the thought of something happening to my family makes me sleep with it... It's a shame I feel this way wondering if anyone does this as well

 

[glockcarry]

I sleep with my fn on the nightstand

 

[Firefighterchen]

I sleep nekked. Firearm is on my nightstand, next to my glasses, a flashlight, a lightsaber, a 40mm grenade launcher....oh and did I mention I sleep in an M1 abram.

Those with a little bit of sense will know which ones I was serious about. (ie: not the lightsaber, not the 40mm, not the M1)

>>

 

[localgirl]

I sleep nekked. Firearm is on my nightstand, next to my glasses, a flashlight, a lightsaber, a 40mm grenade launcher....oh and did I mention I sleep in an M1 abram.

Those with a little bit of sense will know which ones I was serious about. (ie: not the lightsaber, not the 40mm, not the M1)

>>

If you ever become single, I'm marrying you.

 

[Aili McKeen]

I keep a firearm on the floor next to the bed. My carry sidearm is either in my jacket or on my belt. Mind now, the only kid left at home knows firearm safety & shoots too, but I would be more careful if I had pre-teen boys at home - most accidents happen with 10-15 y.o. boys, they just have judgement issues at that age.

 

[robstid]

Nope can't say that I have slept with my firearm on my person, but I do keep my 40cal in my nightstand. Id be afraid that I would have a nice dream of being on the firing range and wake up to some holes in the wall

 

[BC1]

Have you first thought of an alarm system or a dog? The firearm is the last line of defense, not the first. Sleeping with it in your pocket is a little extreme.

 

[zacklmpd]

My gun is in my nightstand drawer if a perp makes it past the combined 300 pounds of German shepherds out side or the alarm system or the dead bolts on my doors I'll get my gun out I should have plenty of time

 

[jhodge83]

My gun is in my nightstand drawer if a perp makes it past the combined 300 pounds of German shepherds out side or the alarm system or the dead bolts on my doors I'll get my gun out I should have plenty of time

somewhat close for me too, but no dogs...house alarm and the TCP and 24/7 are in a gun vault in the nightstand drawer. easy enough to reach in and hit the buttons and have access to both pistols and extra mags.

 

[defender829]

I sleep with mine, and a flashlight, on the nightstand. Loaded shotgun and rifle are in a rack two feet from the bed.

 

[justxboxin]

Thanks guys don't have a nightstand one bedroom place and a not do great city ... Guess the pocket thing sounds weird now lol

 

[Doc Mustang]

I am not certain of your family situation. But this sounds like an issue that really requires some serious consideration. I have adapted this post from one of my older posts but the content applies.

I have a presentation that I give on firearm safety in the home. I use it for training other physicians on how to counsel their pro gun patients. (Patients who would react negatively to the party line of "No guns in the home")

You need to perform a realistic threat assessment. There is a continuum between safety from outside threats and safety from the dangers of improper firearms handling. It starts with a threat assessment. Clearly there is a non-zero possibility of your home being targeted for home invasion. The first step is to minimize the likelihood that you will be targeted. Cutback your shrubs, plant and cultivate unfriendly shrubbery, add motion lighting, buy a dog, an alarm system or both. Do not advertise your wealth. Dispose of boxes from high value purchases discretely. Park your cars in the GARAGE.


Whether we like to admit it or not, once firearms are inside the home, in most situations, unrestricted access by untrained persons to firearms and their mishandling becomes a greater threat than criminal attack. I understand that this is a debatable point. (please note that this is a VERY qualified statement)

The dangers of firearms can be mitigated through safe storage practices and training in the proper handling of firearms. For adults training in a basic firearms course is a minimum. A course like the NRA's Personal Protection INSIDE the home is better. For Children Eddie Eagle is a very good option. Once children are responsible and reliable enough for range training (Your call Dad!) they should be treated like adults and trained accordingly.

Even (sometimes ESPECIALLY) trained children should not have unrestricted access to firearms. As from a developmental standpoint their ability to exercise good judgment and understand consequences has not yet fully developed.

Most firearms should be stored unloaded in a proper gun safe. Although a simple locker can be used it is simply not as secure as a modern, fire retardant gun safe. Most families should already have some form of fire resistant storage to protect their vital documents anyway so a good gun safe does double duty and is a good value. Ammunition should be locked away separately in another container. Lockers or safes for ammo each have their advantages. A proper ammo safe has venting as well as fire resistance to prevent the safe from becoming a bomb in a house fire and is the most secure option. Lockers do not require venting and are significantly cheaper. Most ammo will "cook off" a round or two at a time and it is only the brass that needs to be contained as the bullets tend to stay put. (it's a momentum thing) This fact can make a locker style storage container the best option for storing small amounts of ammunition.

Lastly we come to the concept of "ready guns" here I am going to advocate a position which has ruffled some feathers in the physician community: Concealed or open carry in the home for BOTH adult partners. Think about it, if your pistol is on your person, you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are not accessing it. Clearly this needs to be done carefully, I do not recommend this for everyone. If you and your partner are prone to argument or your marriage is in trouble this is not a good solution. Similarly if your teenager is driving you out of your mind, it might be better to take the gun out of the situation. This takes some responsibility on your part to judge if this is wise for your own domestic situation. No one else can tell you if it is a good idea.

A rapid access safe with either coded or biometric access is essential. This is where you store your firearm when you are not carrying it. This is where your gun goes when you are asleep It is stored loaded and ready. This minimizes "handling" of the gun when holstering it and allows it to be ready should emergency access be required. There are even rapid access options for the storage of long guns. When combined with a proper alarm system you should have plenty of time to retrieve your firearm.

This has been a long post I have put forward some controversial information here. Pro gunners will not like my assessment about the dangers of unrestricted, untrained access to firearms often being a greater threat than home invasion. Anti gunners will balk at the carry in the home bit. I have always felt that a good compromise makes everybody equally angry. I hope I have achieved my goal.

 

[Everclear]

1 in nightstand, 1 in desk beside door, Rottweiler & German shepherd on the floor. (or in Bed. lol).
No kids at home to worry about.

 

[fxstchawg]

I made myself a bedisde holster similiar to the crossbreed one using a old holster and other materials. Wife and I have no kids to worry about. Dont have dogs anymore but will my attack cat do (LOL)

 

[Amy Blackthorn]

My husband and I each have a pistol and a flash light within reach during the night. On body is a little extreme. We also have a shotgun at the foot of the bed.

 

[Coyoye52]

Man Guys I don't sleep with my gun. its there on the night stand. I Wonder about the dogs seems I have to be the watch dog. They only get mad when something awakes them which is usually me.

 

[CapGun]

A question for those of you without a dog or an alarm (alarms can be defeated) and have your gun close to you but out in the open.
Are you sure you can feel the presence of an intruder while in a deep sleep? Are you sure you will hear him or will you be awakened by the sound of your own shotgun being chambered? Maybe just the sound of him laughing because he has your gun in his hand. Just asking

 

[CapGun]

(please see my first post) I am between the 12ga and the door to the bedroom - can't get to it without waking me. I sleep on my side with arm under pillow and can reach the headboard gun that's behind a second pillow without detectable movement, so if the BG actually makes it to the bedroom door, I play possum while retrieving it and BLAM. The gunvault gun is a back up to go back to when needed and is not accessible to the BG in the vault. For that one, the scenario is if I expend all ammo, I can throw the 12ga/carry at them and retreat back to the bedroom vault. I can get the vault open very likely in time to stick the gun in their gut and BLAM again a few more times. I have practiced these scenarios more than once.

May sound a little paranoid, which I use to think about those that had multiple guns available, but the more crap I hear about, the more I consider it being prepared.

Why would I re read your original post. As the OP you might think my comment was directed at you but it wasn't really. Re read my post and in the first sentence you will see who it was directed at. I guess we should be prepared. Paranoid? Who am I to say. I do think that if you are not paranoid you might consider re-locating.
Being the wimp I am I could never live in an area with such overwhelming danger. I couldn't handle the fear factor.:fie:

 

[rotjovi]

Glock on top of the nightstand, Rottweiler on the bed. We're good!

 

[mastrheadhunter]

My GLOCK 21 is always ready to go with one in the pipe in my nightstand. I've got two large and light sleeping dogs...they bark, im out of bed and reaching for my GLOCK