A Gun Under The Pillow

[Packman]

In reading Ayoob's "In The Gravest Extreme", the topic of keeping a handgun under one's pillow was discussed. Ayoob is hardset against the idea, though many of the opinions stated in the book are clearly dated and run counter to current thinking. I'm curious to see the opinions of people on this subject.

Do you feel that keeping a gun under the pillow is a sound strategic plan? Or reserved for paranoid people, convinced the world is out to get them?

Do you feel there are safety concerns in this practice?

Where would you locate your handgun for maximum accessibility and retention?

I'll let this run a little bit before I share my thoughts on the subject.

 

[kayak-man]

For me, I would not keep a gun under my pillow. I toss and turn a lot, so chances are, it would get knocked down behind the bed. I have a small ledge that runs along my wall by my bed, so when I have felt like sleeping with a gun close at hand, I put it on there, although a bit farther away, to prevent me slapping it around in my sleep, or reaching for it when its inapropraite (someone who's supposed to be in my house waking me up.)

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

 

[Frozen North]

I would most defiantly not. It would end up lost in the bedding, slid behind the head board, or worst of all, I would wake up with a gun print on my face.

If someone is that concerned, they could sleep holstered. I am not making fun, I have done it myself. If you expect imminent attack, it makes the most sense. The gun is secured on your person and ready to pull with little thought from your half asleep brain.

 

[IBEWBULL]

When at home , my security system sleeps at the bed side his name is Blue.
The coach gun is in a rack on the wall.
While on the road for business I sometimes go the cheap rout and am not always in the nicest part of town.
The weapon is in a holster on the night stand with a ball cap or t-shirt covring it.
If I were in a combat senario I would most likely stay dressed and keep it holstered.
With the long gun ready to go also. Hopefully there would be a watch posted as to allow a good nights sleep.

 

[rattletrap1970]

I don't move when I sleep. I have my Firestar .45 next to my pillow and my phone next to it. I sleep on my back and I wake up in the same place, so the moving is never an issue.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I think things to consider are movement of the person and movement of the gun. The gun moving is actually a larger concern, as you don't want to go looking/hunting for the gun when you wake up to a noise.

When at home, mine is on the nightstand...I figure I'll be reaching for the phone anyway.

In hotels, it either goes into the nightstand drawer (most hotel nightstands are already crowded) or in my shoe, next to the bed (the last thing you want to do is leave you gun in a hotel room

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Under the pillow? No...However, I for years I had a headboard with a bookcase in it and sliding doors on each end. I always kept a gun behind one of the doors. Now that is gone, a snubbie between the mattress and box spring near my head works.

 

[The-Reaver]

If I'm that worried about someone breaking in I just drop the 3" mag in, then lay Mr Wingmaster across my lap and stay awake all night. I will never sleep with a firearm under my pillow.

 

[4thPointOfContact]

Toss, turn, wake up,... way too much movement at night for me. There are some that lock the door at night to give them a little more time, but I don't think the normal interior door gives a whole lot of security. I keep the door handy so I can hear any noises throughout the house.

Next to the bed is a PS90 with a T1 (I figure that should last for a couple years and the lightweight, high speed mosquito bites should discourage the average goblin.

 

[4thPointOfContact]

Toss, turn, wake up,... way too much movement at night for me. There are some that lock the door at night to give them a little more time, but I don't think the normal interior door gives a whole lot of security. I keep the door handy so I can hear any noises throughout the house.

Next to the bed is a PS90 with a T1 (I figure that should last for a couple years and the lightweight, high speed mosquito bites should discourage the average goblin.

 

[blakdawg]

Not under my pillow, because I'm an active sleeper, so to speak, but in the past I've slept with a gun out on the nightstand. Since then, I've gotten married and I now have nieces who visit sometimes, so no more unsecured guns - so the nightstand gun lives in a GunVault next to the bed.

I don't know how common this is (haven't read Ayoob's book) but my wife will clench and unclench her fists while she's sleeping - if she had a gun in her hand she'd certainly pull the trigger. She has no idea she's doing it.

 

[Hunter125]

I would not sleep with a gun under the pillow. I currently have an XDm .40 on the nightstand that goes in the pistol safe when I am out of the house. I am looking at getting a smaller pistol safe to mount to the bed rail and then mount the gun inside in a holster.
When I am at home and not asleep I usually have the pistol within reach or on my person. My 870 sits in the corner with buckshot in the nightstand drawer as a backup.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Darn slow forum!

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I set my Gun on the bed next to my pillow, moves during the night but hardly anywhere because I hardly move when I sleep.

I would not sleep with a gun under the pillow. I currently have an XDm .40 on the nightstand that goes in the pistol safe when I am out of the house. I am looking at getting a smaller pistol safe to mount to the bed rail and then mount the gun inside in a holster.
When I am at home and not asleep I usually have the pistol within reach or on my person. My 870 sits in the corner with buckshot in the nightstand drawer as a backup.

If your shotgun is there to be used yet unloaded, what good is it?

 

[RKRCPA]

I had a friend years ago who slept with a 1911 under his pillow.......until he was wakened one morning by a gunshot. Talk about somebody looking like he'd seen a ghost!

No, I won't sleep with a gun under my pillow. I keep a loaded gun on my nightstand next to my bed along with a spare mag, flashlight and cell phone. If I'm crashed at an unfamiliar location I'll stash it in my shoe next to me.

 

[au01st]

SD9 on the night stand, Mossberg 500 hanging from the sling on the bedpost by my head. Bedroom door has a deadbolt and I'm single and live with one roommate who is across the house. I toss and turn a good bit so I would never keep one under the pillow.

 

[heeler]

I move around a lot in my sleep and as far back as I can remember I have done this so I dont want the gun under me at all.
It stays in a drawer right next to me and my suspicious but faithful Blue Heeler sleeps nightly in the house,so no issues there.
Out on trips the firearm is on a nightstand and usually covered with a cap or small hand towel.
One thing to think about is if you suffer from sleep walking like my brother does.
This guy wonders around the house at times and is not even aware of his actions until he is brought back to reality.
Not sure I would want to be in the same room with someone like that with a gun under their pillow or in their close reach.

 

[mbruce]

Wasn't that hackleberry in police academy that slept with a revolver under his pillow...and his finger on the trigger....only way id do it is if chuck norris does it.

I have a bed holster that slides between box spring and mattress. Basically L shaped thin metal with a holster clip on side. Have 1 on each side of bed....and a chihuahua in the bed..

 

[HSPepke]

I toss and turn all night, so my Judge is in the nightstand with #4 shot, buckshot, and three 45 colts. In that order.

 

[Glock Doctor]

Quite frankly I think the decision to keep a gun under the pillow depends upon both the individual(s) involved and existing circumstances around the property. If I were to keep a handgun under my pillow it would be either a revolver with a long double-action pull or a semi-auto kept, strictly, in C-3.

I, also, believe that there are certain people who should never attempt to do something like this. For instance, some people are sleepwalkers; others talk in their sleep, or are extremely restless. It may sound funny; but, I swear, if some people kept a bugle next to the bed I'm sure that, sooner or later, they'd suddenly sit up and blow it. (That's people!)

Just lost my virginity!

 

[winchester1886]

In Vietnam I slept with my 45ACP in hand cocked and locked,at the time it seemed like a good idea.I wouldn't even sleep with it under my pillow now.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I wouldn't sleep with a pistol under the pillow. It sounds dramatic in fiction, but my life isn't an adventure story. A shotgun within easy reach is good enough for me. And I want to be wide awake before I put hands on a firearm.

Besides- we have fences, perimeter sensor systems, alarm systems and big protective dogs (in the house but NOT on the bed), so that we can afford to sleep peacefully without needing to worry about lumpy pillows or nocturnal firearms mishaps. Snoring Filas are actually sorta comforting once you get used to them.

lpl

 

[Oyeboten]

I haved slept with a Holstered .45 Auto under my Pillow for decades.

It has never moved or migrated or been the slightest trouble or concern in any way.


I would definitely not sleep with an Ayoob under my Pillow though...way too lumpy for comfort.

 

[Sticky]

I like Ayoob's idea of between the pages of a magazine that looks casually dropped on the floor. Under the pillow is one of the first places a home invader would look.

This assumes no little ones running around the house; not usually a concern for me. With youngsters it would be in one of the quick "combination-button" safes that have 4 buttons on them.

 

[Fred Fuller]

09:58 PM
FIVETWOSEVEN Darn slow forum!

By the way- I checked to see what was going on, because the board was slow for me too.

Here's what I found in the stats...

Most users ever online was 4,422, Today at 09:29 PM.

Growing pains, I guess. We'll be working on that.

lpl