Night Stand: Concealed or Open?

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

My wife and I don't have kids, so we just lock in. Two locks on the bedroom door, all of the exterior doors locked, and a dog loose in the house.

Except for an occasional car on the main road, there isn't much of any night noise out where we live. An intruder would have to force a screen door, force the main door, and then kick down the bedroom door... I may be a sound sleeper, but someone is going to hear that.

 

[BBQLS1]

No Kids, 1911 Cocked and Locked on the nightstand, and an alarm system that is armed. I put the gun in the safe when I'm not next to it.

 

[7mm Rubrbnd Shootr]

PTT,
saw your post from lastnite (early a.m.)
I personally keep a .45 ACP in a "bulldog"
zipper case, (halfway un-zipped so I can
reach into the bottom half of the case) under
the second pillow behind my head (I sleep on
the first pillow) this way I can reach the gun
in a split second, even if I wake up and by some
chance, someone has managed to get into my room
and even possibly is standing over me! I will hopefully

 

[7mm Rubrbnd Shootr]

PTT,
saw your post from lastnite...
used a nitestand for years and finally
realized I may not have time to reach for
my gun on the nitestand! Keep the .45 under
my pillow now... the second pillow behind me
that is, I sleep on the first one! .: BADD

 

[Jonah71]

No kids around. CZ Phantom chambered just to my right. Ruger Security Six to my left. I don't move much at night unless the neighbors dog wakes me.

 

[Sport45]

You could lock your bedroom door. Nobody will get through it without waking you.

I couldn't agree more.

You should have the bedroom door closed anyway. You are much more likely to be killed by toxic fumes from a fire than you are by an intruder. So if safety is your concern, keep the door closed.

Close the door and place something against it that will make some noise falling if someone tries to quietly open it. I believe they even make an alarm that hangs on the doorknob.

 

[Owen Sparks]

You can also install an exterior commercial grade metal door on your bedroom. These are made like a conventional hollow core door only they are made of sheet metal rather than wood panneling. They are virtually impossible to break down without specialized tools as well as being fireproof. It should cost less than a new pistol installed.

 

[CoRoMo]

Got kids... bedroom doors stay wide open... readied arms are secured within appropriate devices... two indoor dogs keep tabs on the property while I snooze.

 

[PTT]

Got kids... bedroom doors stay wide open... readied arms are secured within appropriate devices... two indoor dogs keep tabs on the property while I snooze.

You raise a good point. I will not lock my bedroom door and bunker down while letting the threat get to my kids.

 

[788Ham]

Keep a loaded SP-101 .357 in the bedside table. I have 3 dogs, very light sleepers, plus the Mrs., she's always awake when the dogs turn-over. No kids.

 

[CoRoMo]

Locking the doors... I won't even close the bedroom doors. They stay wide open. That's the way it is with small kids. We need to be able to hear them if they are in need during the night, so their doors and ours stay open. It also lets the dogs run around the house at night, and it's easier to hear things that happen across the house than if the door was closed.

I've adapted my S&T to this arrangement sufficiently.

 

[safetyguy61]

Get a bed that is adjustable on each side and keep the gun between the mattresses, I do.

 

[chrt396]

I bought a cheap Mossberg 12 guage pump shotgun that I put on top of the dresser leaning against the upright of the mirror. My wife complained..so I took some of her silk floral stuff and decorated my shotgun! She's happy now!

 

[chrt396]

PTT,
saw your post from lastnite...
used a nitestand for years and finally
realized I may not have time to reach for
my gun on the nitestand! Keep the .45 under
my pillow now... the second pillow behind me
that is, I sleep on the first one! .: BADD

Wow!! I'd be afraid that I'd end up shooting me or my wife as I sleep and flipping over continuously.

 

[Rexster]

I keep two Boston Terrorists in kennel-crates right by the bedroom door while I sleep. (Yes, they are very good watchdogs, especially the male.) I keep the firearms out of sight. The handguns have rounds chambered, and the shotguns have empty chambers. If indications are really bad, I can slide a loaded mag into a rifle.

Other dogs elsewhere in the house and yard will probably serve as an earlier warning; the Bostons are a back-up alarm.

 

[Owen Sparks]

I keep my shotgun on the floor by the bed and covered by the bed skirt. He have no children but like to keep it concealed from the casual observer such as the cable guy or other service people who might have to come in the house.

 

[chrisnoel27]

If they can past the 125 pound GERMAN German Shepherd I can guarantee they won't get past my .45, which sits 3 feet from my head on my nightstand. Zeke has been trained to patrol the house, funny story, I bought the dog from a friend whom had Zeke trained by a trainer to patrol and disable intruders. He left for Iraq and had to send Zeke to a good home. I bought Zeke because I was transitioning to night shift and wanted the family well protected while away. So, the day we get him worked out fine, Zeke took to us well but wife was a little intimidated by him. That night I get a call at work at 1 am from my wife, she's crying. "What's wrong?" I asked, she says the dog is freaking her out. "What's he doing?" I asked, she says, he won't sleep. He keeps going from door to door and all the windows, so she let shim out to use the bathroom, once out side he just sits by her and stares out into the night. So she takes him back inside, where he promptly starts his patrol again. I said remember we talked about this? This is what he does, it's normal for him. He's doing his job, very well sounds like. She says it's making her nervous. So I asked her to tell Zeke in a firm voice to go lay down. She did and he did. She called back 5 minutes later and said Zeke is now laying down directly in front of the front door. When she got up he was there sleeping, in front of the door. Every night, for 3 years the same thing with Zeke.
Man's best friend indeed.

 

[SSN Vet]

Access would be too slow and I've taken other measures to prevent child injury.

I have a touch pad gun vault bolted to the floor under my night stand....I can roll out of bed and pop up armed in ~3 sec. All my "designated" handguns are condition 1.

I used to be a really light sleeper when the kids were small, but the last couple years I've changed.

We have squeeky steps with a squeeky dog gate at the bottom of them, so I'm pretty sure I'll get a heads up kick from my wife.

I really need to get off the pot and get an allarm system installed.

Our dog will sleep through a lot, and if he does wake up he just looks at you as if to say "I'm still sleepy"

Get a bed that is adjustable on each side and keep the gun between the mattresses, I do

could really add some "bang" to your romantic encouners

 

[klutchless]

Both are kept in the open 38 on the nightstand 40 on the light table 20ga shotgun stays at the foot of the bed all loaded one in the chamber.Dogs are outside alarm is set doors are locked and windows are bared with survalance cameras rollin pointed at the driveway , barn ,backyard and entranceways.The two things I hate most are liars and thieves.One scams you for what you worked for and the other just takes it.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Hot, holstered, between the mattress and box spring, with only about .5" of the grip protruding... just enough for me to periodilcally brush my arm against and reassure myself.

 

[mark1616]

I don't sleep on a bed. I developed the habit of sleeping on a couch, so my "bed"room is really a "couch"room. I currently have a loaded and locked Mossberg 500 five feet away in the closet, but I am trying to think of ways to keep a handgun within reach but out of sight. Like OP, I am a deep sleeper, even the dogs don't wake me up for many minutes if barking.

 

[leadcounsel]

Maybe something as simple as locking the bedroom door.

Bingo.

Dogs aren't for everyone, but they are the ancient alarm system.

Or you could buy a relatively cheap (we're talking like $10) motion alarm or several. Simply place inside your room and point at the door and flip it on when you go to bed.

 

[ForumSurfer]

My kids are 8 and 12. They are well versed in firearm safety and go shooting with me whenever they like. I feel perfectly comfortable removing my ccw handgun from the holster and putting it on the nightstand at night. Everything else is in the safe save for a shotgun at the ready between it and the wall. The kids know about it, too. I've seen instances on the news of 12-15 year olds saving the day with daddy's weapon. If something happens to me, the oldest needs to understand the basics of defense as he will be the next up to defend the family. For that reason alone, I've let him start doing action shooting drills with me using my buckmark.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I keep it in a small drawer in the nightstand. I sleep heavy and flop around too much to keep it out in the open on the nightstand where an errant arm might knock it off.

I have actually knocked mine off a couple of times, so I started keeping it in the drawer as well. Magazine in, chamber empty.

 

[Der Stro]

Personally I bought a cheap drop leg, one of the $20 cheaper than dirt deals, took all the straps off, and used the velcro to attach it to the bedframe. Its hidden by the bedskirt but very accessible. Like many, I keep my weapon loaded, but without a round in battery so as to not be so quick to pull the trigger. The neat thing about the holster is the spare magazine pouch in the front where I stuck a very bright little flashlight.