Part of my job in the past was to screen patients admitted to the ER under a psych order for assessment. It was my job to determine if they went free, to the hospital, or to jail. That was in Kansas and I am now retired. A colleague of mine had the same job in Arkansas. On more than one occasion the patient and the family got really angry because I recommended jail instead of the hospital. Sometimes they threatened me. My colleague "Joe" in Arkansas had the same experience. As a result of one particularly nasty threat from a meth addict, Joe started keeping his Browning A 5 next to his bed. But, after a few days he discontinued the practice__said it made him too paranoid. Personally I feel more relaxed knowing I have a gun handy if I need it. I've kept a firearm handy for many years and I feel a bit naked when I'm forced to leave my gun home when I travel. I don't think I'm any more "paranoid" then I've ever been. I live a trust-but-verify life. Here's my question. What is your psychological reaction to having a gun under the bed? In your night stand? In the corner? Do you remember when you first started this practice?
Bedside Guns and anxiety
- Thread starter Sniper66
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Shanghai McCoy
Member
Been keeping a gun "handy" for all the years that my wife and I've been married.
I don't think that's paranoid, just prepared.
I don't think that's paranoid, just prepared.
HOWARD J
Member
In Detriot in 1967
Klint Beastwood
member
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difference between well prepared, hypervigilant and paranoid. Its a problem when you have deep anxiety leaving your gun, won't leave the house, or utterly retract from "normal" social behavior. As far as the gun around the bed, if kids arent around, i dont see a problem with it. On deployment you sleep with your weapon at all times...it's weird not to when you come back...
GBExpat
Member
I started at least 42 years ago. O'course, I have had guns around me for my entire life, so I am both comfortable with and respectful of them. I squeezed off my first shot during Eisenhower's second term.
BaltimoreBoy
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I think it is normal, once you get used to it.
I first bought a firearm in my mid-20's. It took me a while to get used to keeping it handy and loaded. Maybe a few months.
Now it's 40 years later.
Having a firearm is like having a bolt on the door, a seatbelt, or a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
I first bought a firearm in my mid-20's. It took me a while to get used to keeping it handy and loaded. Maybe a few months.
Now it's 40 years later.
Having a firearm is like having a bolt on the door, a seatbelt, or a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
.308 Norma
Member
Last question first; No, I don't remember when I first started the practice because I figure the fact that when I was a kid, Dad always had a loaded gun handy in his and Mom's bedroom has to count for me having a loaded gun handy in my own bedroom, doesn't it? Also, when I was a teenager, I had a homemade gun rack with my own guns on it in my bedroom. I didn't keep them loaded, but they were there nonetheless, hanging right above my bed.
I'm not trying to be a wise guy here, Sniper66. I'm just saying that knowing there are loaded guns in the house in case they are needed for my or my family's protection has always been the "norm" for me. I suppose you'd have to ask a psychologist how that has affected me psychologically.
However, and this is a little bit of a wise remark - I guess it was 1972 when I personally started keeping a loaded gun beside my bed. That's because it was June 09, 1972 when I got out of the service. Before then, I'd never had a house of my own, let alone a nightstand of my own to keep a loaded gun on. That fact might have affected my psyche somewhat.
Ironicaintit
Member
I don't recall ever not having weapons handy at home. I don't think I'm paranoid, it just seems like a good idea. when ya live out in the woods and cops are 30+ minutes away, you need to be able to handle things yourself.
Though I'm pretty sure I'd feel the same way, if police were only a few minutes away.
Though I'm pretty sure I'd feel the same way, if police were only a few minutes away.
.308 Norma
Member
Beat ya GBExpat - it was his first term for me.I squeezed off my first shot during Eisenhower's second term.
Nevertheless, it sounds like we both grew up around guns, feeling "comfortable and respectful of them." Possibly folks like us aren't the right people to ask for answers to the OP's questions. I'm mean, I might feel differently about guns if I was already an adult when I decided I needed to keep a gun beside my bed for self/home protection.
berettaprofessor
Member
Not paranoid, but extremely safe-minded. I don't have a gun out at home at all times, but I almost always have one at hand when I'm home, and I always do when I go to bed. Then, when I leave, the gun is locked up; wife doesn't know how to properly use them, doesn't want to learn, and I'm not in control of who may visit the house when I'm working; friends, housekeeper, neighborhood kids. I'm also well aware that as stable as I think everyone around me is, sometimes you don't know which of your friends may be suicidal (from experience).
Okay, maybe a little paranoid, because I started the practice about 10 years ago as the home invasion stories became more frequent. Are they more frequent, or do we just now hear about every one that occurs in the US, Canada, and Europe?
Okay, maybe a little paranoid, because I started the practice about 10 years ago as the home invasion stories became more frequent. Are they more frequent, or do we just now hear about every one that occurs in the US, Canada, and Europe?
jmorris
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I have always been around guns. My Grandfather had one behind the seat of his trucks, from before I was born until he passed away. I've got "wall hangers" just for looking at and tuck a pistol in my pants before putting a belt through the loops or wallet in the pocket. So for me it's the same as a knife in the kitchen, not a big deal.
That said if one makes you, unreasonably or obsessively anxious, suspicious, or mistrustful, the definition of paranoid, I would suggest you stay away from them.
That said if one makes you, unreasonably or obsessively anxious, suspicious, or mistrustful, the definition of paranoid, I would suggest you stay away from them.
ontarget
Member
Always been around. Yes I feel naked without one, and no I don't think I'm paranoid. Its just the way it has always been.
grampajack
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I was in my mid teens. It unnerved me at first having a loaded gun just lying around, but not for long. It's just a mental thing, and probably stems from not really understanding the fine mechanical aspects of how guns work. Once you figure out the gun can't go off by itself you get over it. If you don't know exactly how guns work, then a cocked and locked gun looks kind of like a set mousetrap, like it could spring at any moment if it were dropped or something. Obviously that's not the case.
Of course I'm assuming this doesn't have anything to do with kids in the house. If there's a potential for kids being in the house then it needs to be under lock and key. Sad that that's where this nation's youth is right now, but that's the size of it. Even if your own kids aren't a problem you have to worry about their friends.
Of course I'm assuming this doesn't have anything to do with kids in the house. If there's a potential for kids being in the house then it needs to be under lock and key. Sad that that's where this nation's youth is right now, but that's the size of it. Even if your own kids aren't a problem you have to worry about their friends.
Good Ol' Boy
Member
I grew up around and have been comfortable around guns my entire life. However I had a fairly long sabbatical from firearms from my early 20's until a couple of years ago (34 now). My interests layed elsewhere for the duration of that time.
However once I got into my early 30's and got married I feel most of my adolescence was left behind. I became concerned about different things and as a result got back into firearms, not only for self defense but as a hobby.
I have been sleeping with a pistol beside my pillow for the last couple of years and in most cases would feel naked without it. Being able to protect where you sleep is a part of the basic principle behind the 2A. Nothing paranoid about that.
However once I got into my early 30's and got married I feel most of my adolescence was left behind. I became concerned about different things and as a result got back into firearms, not only for self defense but as a hobby.
I have been sleeping with a pistol beside my pillow for the last couple of years and in most cases would feel naked without it. Being able to protect where you sleep is a part of the basic principle behind the 2A. Nothing paranoid about that.
.308 Norma
Member
Yep, you are right - sad. I've posted before that I was hunting ducks, pheasants and chuckers with my buddies when I was 16 years old. That was in 1964. But nowadays, while we don't have any children in the house, we have two adult daughters (one widowed and one divorced) living in their own homes. Each of them has children of their own. And there's no way on Earth either of our daughters would allow accessible guns in their home. That would be insane. Even though both of our daughters grew up around guns and hunting, and they've done a good job teaching their own kids about guns, you're right - their kids have friends.
Times change. Not always for the better IMO.
TreeDoc
Member
Grew up around them but didn't have one of my own until 20, when I rented my first home. The neighborhood was pretty sketchy at best. I barely had 2 nickles to rub together. Found an old wingmaster 12 with a partially cracked butt stock. $75, chopped the barrel, chopped the stock into some kind of pistol grip. Looked awful but functioned well. Sold it years later for my first revolver S&W model 10, still have that gun. It resides in my office.
Seems like having a gun around is having the opposite of the intended effect.
I don't have anxiety, because I have a gun around.
As to that meth addict, I'd hazard to say he's got more important (to him)
things to attend to, besides tracking down a hospital tech, from years ago.
IF he remembered you at all. A lot of hotheads say things they either
forget or regret, soon after.
I don't have anxiety, because I have a gun around.
As to that meth addict, I'd hazard to say he's got more important (to him)
things to attend to, besides tracking down a hospital tech, from years ago.
IF he remembered you at all. A lot of hotheads say things they either
forget or regret, soon after.
.308 Norma
Member
Kinda the same as a pocketknife too. My goodness, it's just a handy tool. There's a reason why some of them are called "Boy Scout Knives." Yet just try to carry a Boy Scout Knife into a Social Security Office, a Courthouse, or a School nowadays.
BTW - yes, I do carry a Boy Scout Knife (mine's a Winger brand) on my belt almost all the time. It comes in handy almost everyday. And I resented the heck out of it when the armed guard at the front door of the Social Security Office made me take it back out and leave it in my truck. It's just a handy tool.
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Bingo. Although people can be both as well.
I grew up with guns. My father kept a loaded Remington 11 in the closet of his and my mother's bedroom. My mother had a Colt's Police Positive Special in .32-20 WCF and was quite accurate with it. When my father had to be out of town on business, mother always had that Colt's on the nightstand beside her bed.
After I moved to Los Angeles in 1962, I owned a Winchester 94 .30-30 and a S&W Combat Masterpiece, .38 Spec. The revolver was in a drawer in the nightstand beside the bed and the .30-30 was in the closet. The revolver was loaded, the rifle was not although there were a couple boxes of cartridges on the shelf above in the closet. During the 1965 Watts riots, I loaded the rifle. It stayed loaded thereafter.
Still have a loaded pistol beside the bed and my wife has her .38 Special revolver in a holster attached to the bed frame beside her. We've never suffered any anxiety about having guns in the bedroom.
L.W.
After I moved to Los Angeles in 1962, I owned a Winchester 94 .30-30 and a S&W Combat Masterpiece, .38 Spec. The revolver was in a drawer in the nightstand beside the bed and the .30-30 was in the closet. The revolver was loaded, the rifle was not although there were a couple boxes of cartridges on the shelf above in the closet. During the 1965 Watts riots, I loaded the rifle. It stayed loaded thereafter.
Still have a loaded pistol beside the bed and my wife has her .38 Special revolver in a holster attached to the bed frame beside her. We've never suffered any anxiety about having guns in the bedroom.
L.W.
Panzerschwein
member
Kept an SKS at my bed, loaded, since aged 18. Switched to other options, but still have options available.
FL-NC
Member
I also keep (and use) seatbelts in my truck and a helmet with my motorcycle. I even have a fire extinguisher in my kitchen and another in my garage. There are medicines and other items in the event of injury or illness. The list goes on. As far as the gun, I have the right to have it, and the training to use it. To not keep it handy would be foolish.
Hardtarget
Member
I got married in '72. There has been a HD weapon every night. As a kid, there were guns at home. Would not feel right without a gun at hand.
Mark
Mark
Demi-human
maybe likes firearms a little bit…
A few years ago I divorced. I took my children, she wanted the van. She started to pal around with some of the unsavory sorts. When one of them showed up at the house to beat me up for kicking her drugged, thieving self out, in front of the children no less. (Probably mad they lost their dope ticket.) I talked my way out of it, but it was soon after that a Taurus ninety two came to live with us. I couldn't bear to think what might have happened if words had failed me. I am not small, but I am not a fighter.
I decided that I would be there for my children, no matter what, or who.
Also with two young children, my weapons needed to be secure. That meant always on me, or in the safe. I made a sheet steel rig to hold a holster on the side of my mattress, someone would have to climb over me to get it.
At first I was anxious, but that faded. Learning the mechanics of how they operate helped greatly. My children are smart, I taught them all about the gun and I sleep lightly anyway. The others are locked in the safe at all times.
My hands are trembling. I suppose I am still angry. (My poor keyboard!) I haven't even told these events to my folks. Many of us know how mothers can be. They just think I like guns now.
I hope someday my kiddos can know how mothers can be.
I also feel naked without a pistol within arms reach, even though I didn't start carrying til I was thirty four.
I decided that I would be there for my children, no matter what, or who.
Also with two young children, my weapons needed to be secure. That meant always on me, or in the safe. I made a sheet steel rig to hold a holster on the side of my mattress, someone would have to climb over me to get it.
At first I was anxious, but that faded. Learning the mechanics of how they operate helped greatly. My children are smart, I taught them all about the gun and I sleep lightly anyway. The others are locked in the safe at all times.
My hands are trembling. I suppose I am still angry. (My poor keyboard!) I haven't even told these events to my folks. Many of us know how mothers can be. They just think I like guns now.
I hope someday my kiddos can know how mothers can be.
I also feel naked without a pistol within arms reach, even though I didn't start carrying til I was thirty four.
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