The logic of "A gun on/in my nightstand"

[RoostRider]

I used to have a pillow gun.... that got tiresome (literally) really quick....

I switched to a nightstand gun... in the drawer... that didn't suffice when little ones presented themselves in my life...

I switched to a gun in a concealed safe on the nightstand (concealed as an alarmclock radio).

I have heard of so many robberies and burglaries where the burglar was in the process of, or had already gone through the nightstand.... in fact, in many cases it was the first place the burglar went, and in some cases the only place the burglar went....

I have to wonder what ever made me think that was a good place to keep a gun, right there in the open or in an unlocked drawer in a nightstand while I slip off and catch a few winks...

My logic at the time, and I am sure the logic of many others, is that it is 'there when I need it'.... I sleep pretty light, but the facts are that few people regularily sleep so light that no one could sneak in their room at night... there are endless burglary reports where people woke up to find someone rifling through their nightstand..

The burglars know that is where the 'goods' are, and you (and formerly I) go and stick our 'first need' gun right there???

I have since taken to keeping my regular carry piece in a IWB holster tucked between the mattress and box spring with just the grip sticking out.... right near where my hand lays normally.... (the disguised safe still houses another gun.... mostly in case the woman needs one when I'm not around)

My thought process being.... it's only there when I'm sleeping (otherwise it's on my side, but one could easily unlock a gun each night if they don't carry daily)... it is as readily available as anywhere (more so than most places)... and no one is likely to get to that place without first disturbing my slumber (unless they happen to search along the seam of my bed really lightly under my covers.... read- not likely)...

Even if I am surprised in bed sleeping I have a pretty good chance of getting to it before it is discovered what I am doing, even as I roll out of bed under watch I can reach down and grab it (try going for your nightstand drawer with an armed assailant watching you)... if that is the choice I make.... if not... well, it is unlikely to get discovered there at all without a more thorough search than most armed robbers are willing to commit to on the spot...

I have been the guy with the need to get my gun in hand and quickly, so I appreciate "I need it now" situations....

So yeah..... what do you guys think? Is 'nightstand' a good way to keep a gun when sleeping?

 

[9MMare]

My 9mm is on my nitestand any time I'm home. On a shelf on it, not in a drawer, so it's visible and immediately accessible.

No kids in the home, and rare to visit. I have a safe that it goes in if I leave and cant take it with me.

The bedroom is my safe room, where I'd retreat if the house is broken into. Also have 2 dogs. The gun does not have a round chambered, but the safety is off. I believe I'll have time to rack the slide (dogs, doors, etc.) and believe that racking it will help wake me up and clear my head somewhat.

Tactical flashlight sits on the shelf with it, plus extra magazine. Cell phone above it. Landline also in the room.

(Note: I carry it with a round chambered, safety on.)

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Wait, are we saying that a burglar is going to break in, sneak into my room and take the gun off the nightstand while I'm laying there sleeping?

Or are you talking about leaving the gun there when you're gone or elsewhere in the house?

 

[plateshooter]

I put a gun on my nightstand when I go to bed. Otherwise, it's on my person or by my chair. If it is not in those places, it is in the safe.

 

[cmfireman]

Gun, flashlight, cell phone on my nightstand, and my bedroom door locked when I sleep at night.

I doubt they can crack the lock, get into my house AND into my bedroom without me waking.

 

[CoRoMo]

...there are endless burglary reports where people woke up to find someone rifling through their nightstand.

I've missed those endless reports. I need to be pointed to them so that I can learn. I've never heard of this happening.

I don't understand how a gun in your drawer wouldn't suffice with little ones around, but when it's hanging out of the crack between the mattress and the box-spring, that's better.

I certainly don't know why a burglar would go right to a nightstand. Is he in bad need of coughdrops or chap-stik? What are people keeping in the nightstand that is so valuable? I suppose if you don't have a jewelery box, and you don't unload your dailies onto the top of a dresser or desk, it might end up in there.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I keep a revolver in each nightstand and at night my carry piece is on top of my night stand. Never had a problem with my kids and these "unsecure" guns. Why you ask? Well for one thing I trained my children the proper handling of small arms from an early age. And they were told that the master bedroom was "off limits". Five children and not one problem...They are grown and gone now.

 

[Dr.Mall Ninja]

I doubt they can crack the lock, get into my house AND into my bedroom without me waking.

yeah me too, i dont have kids to worry about either.

 

[YaNi]

On the night stand are: Pistol, flashlight, extra mag, cell phone, wallet, and reading material.

If I leave the house, everything but the reading material comes with me. I have a dog to alert me and there are there are never any kids in my house, let alone in my room. I see no reason to put my carry gun in the safe. There is noone in the house to sneak into my room at night and play with my gun. There was another home invasion in a neighboring city last night, so I'd like to be armed when some crackhead kicks in my front door and wants to put a gun to my head.

 

[FAS1]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=6002068&postcount=11

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=459871

 

[HOV]

Deleted

 

[Darkninja]

I don't have a handgun (damn 21+ laws) yet so I have to 'settle' for a 12-gauge. This sleeps propped against the wall next to my bed, loaded with 00BK in the mag and chamber and Slugs on the saddle. When I am not around it is unloaded and hid. [no safe yet.]

 

[Mags]

I just take my gun off my hip place on the nightstand and good night. Wake up and get dressed gun goes back on the hip. It is never left unattended, well I guess it is while I am asleep.

 

[wrs840]

I carry always, even at home. When I lay me down to sleep though, I don't leave anything "laying around" in obvious places... but three handguns and four long-guns are in a handy "locked-at-day, unlocked-at-bedtime", cleverly-non-obvious storage and quick/quiet-handy-access cabinet within three steps of my bed. I'm confident and comfortable with this. I would be very uncomfortable with a gun "on the nightstand" or "in the nightstand drawer", or under my pillow", etc.

Just me.

Get clever and creative, (and sleep light),

Les

 

[colorado_handgunner]

+1 to Yani. Same situation here except alarm system instead of dogs (dagum allergies).

 

[RoostRider]

First off to all, I am not advocating not having any accessible firearm from your bedside.... read my post again please if need be....

For the record- I have taught my son well regarding firearms.... that's why I can keep it tucked under my mattress with the grip sticking out while I sleep now (not so much when he was younger).... This thread was not intended to deal with the problems a wayward child can cause.... that would be far more extensive...

I certainly don't know why a burglar would go right to a nightstand..... What are people keeping in the nightstand that is so valuable?

Lets just say, jewelry, watches, wallets, money, and, so it would seem, often guns.... oddly, many of the most burglarized items in the country is all....

*Source*

Seriously???? The pile of posts prior to yours (and nearly all after) shows that nearly every person replying leaves many assorted valuables right there in/on the nightstand. Even people like those here, who are more concerned with safety than the average Joe.... And you can't understand why a criminal would go there? Well, I guess I just can't work with that.... what can I say?

Or are you just trying to be antagonistic? (you wouldn't do that would you?)

Wait, are we saying that a burglar is going to break in, sneak into my room and take the gun off the nightstand while I'm laying there sleeping?

No, but I am saying it is quite possible..... or, at very least, way more possible if it is out in the open.... (this thread does not address how to keep a firearm while around the home awake)

I am questioning the logic of keeping it out in the open, or, in this case, in one of the first places a criminal will look even if he is burglarizing your home while you are in it... while you sleep....

Hey guys, I am not going to go around citing police reports where peoples nightstand got rifled in a burglary. I can barely use the search function on this site... lol.... (evidenced by the linked threads... even though I first searched.. lol)... there are plenty if you are truly that interested (sounds like you're not, so, you made up your mind and this logic can't dissuade that, maybe, like me, experience will... lets hope not).... but I can tell you that it is common knowledge to burglars that the nightstand and dresser drawers often contain the easiest of things to loot and sell- jewlery, money, phones, credit cards, valuable small items and, if their lucky- guns (admittedly just the things some of you tend to keep there while you sleep). Do you think criminals who do this for a living don't know that?

In just a recent thread here I posted about a robbery at my house my neighbor woke up to this same (experienced) burglar rifling through her nightstand while she lay in bed sleeping... so, there's the first one for ya, now go Google your brains out...

Lets just say no one has to read your mind to know where your valuables are.... you use the same routine as most people (as evidenced in this thread alone).... empty pockets of valuables onto nightstand and drift off to sleep (read- not so much guarding as just having nearby)

The same reason you keep your gun there is the same reason criminals go there.... you want all your small valuables by your side while you sleep.... if you fail to see the logic behind that, trust me, the criminals don't...

The thing is, there is one valuable that seems too important (to me at least), to go leaving in the same place as all of those replaceable items..... that being my family/self protection... everything else, everything else, is second to that....

If a criminal has any inkling on where my ability to protect myself lies, that is too much.

Some of you have good reasons for feeling safe that way.... others, well, not so much... "sleep light" might be good advice, but not advice you can reliably follow... an alarm or 'good' guard dog is a luxury only supported by a margin of the people who keep nightstand guns out in the open.... (I have a big black lab.... he snores louder than a drunk on New Years... *confirmed*)

In my experience, the things that aren't seen are the things that don't get taken, the things out in plain sight are the most vulnerable... no way I want that to be my gun when I need it because a criminal is hovering over my bed....

 

[MrCleanOK]

I think it's unwise to leave it out in the open, or even concealed in a conspicuous place if you're not home. My night stand gun is out on top of the night stand in the same place, same orientation every night. When I am not in bed it's either with me or in the safe, no exceptions. No need to unload or fondle it. Just put it in the safe, or put it in the holster.

 

[9MMare]

So RoostR, is your objection to keeping a gun in or on a nightstand because it's the first place a thief will come and look? And 2nd, because you think you wont wake up?

Well, I'm pretty sure they'll be busy elsewhere in the house getting what they can before they hit the bedroom and risk waking the residents. How soundly do you sleep?

A dog isnt a luxury, altho there are reasons not everyone has one. And there are cheap door/window/motion detectors too. I'd rather invest in any of those things than not have a weapon handy. (and you said you have worked out something for your bedroom).

Also, my night stand...and there are 2, naturally!...with the gun is on the far side of the bed and the gun/shelf isnt visible from the doorway or most of the room. At night, they'd have to go around me and trip over 2 dog beds to get to it. No way they'd attempt it, esp if they didnt know it was there.

And thus the gun is also invisible to guests who might glance in the room. If there was company I didnt know well, I'd stick it in the safe.

 

[RoostRider]

I'm not trying to hammer anyone who keeps a gun on a nightstand while they sleep.... as noted, I used to do it myself and there are appropriate ways to do it.... my thought is more to have people think about it better, because I didn't for a while.... and I'm a pretty smart guy...

It is never left unattended, well I guess it is while I am asleep

Precisely my point....

So RoostR, is your objection to keeping a gun in or on a nightstand because it's the first place a thief will come and look?

No, but because it is a likely place to be searched.... maybe not first... but yeah, often enough its at the top of the list....

In the instance I cited known to me personally, the experienced burglar broke into the basement, woke the resident during the break in, waited for them to check the house and go back to sleep and then made his way directly to the nightstand of a sleeping person before stumbling and waking her.... he didn't go for anything else along the way...

If not for the fact that there were already squad cars swarming the streets outside, he'd have been gone before the police arrived, even though he was caught in the act.... because he knows EXACTLY if/when the police were called... he doesn't realize 5 minutes after someone already called the cops when they flick on the lights in the living room, gun in hand, while he's crouched over unhooking the DVD player .... he gets a jump on that.... he also gets the element of surprise if you should wake up, not you (he's on pins and needles and your groggy and incoherent).... experienced crooks know this stuff...

Is the doorknob 'smash and grab' thief going to go for your nightstand first thing? Maybe not... but the experienced thief knows where the payoff is, and it aint in the DVD player in the living room.... it's in your room, and if you're sleeping, and he's quiet, he gets paid better for carrying less out of your house...

Which one is going to break into your house?

And 2nd, because you think you wont wake up?

Actually, I think I will..... but I could be wrong.... do I want to take that chance with my security?....

How soundly do you sleep?

I wake easily.... I was raised very rural, and a sound was something that was supposed to wake you up... when I first moved to the city I ran a fan in my room while I slept to drown out noise because otherwise everything woke me up... I have since decided to just deal with waking up many times each night.... Still there have been times I have woke up to someone (girlfriend/son) standing right over me... right next to my nightstand...

Well, I'm pretty sure they'll be busy elsewhere in the house getting what they can before they hit the bedroom and risk waking the residents.

Pretty sure?.... maybe?.... again... pretty sure isn't where I want my self protection... I was 'pretty sure' I wasn't going to get hit by a professional thief too.... afterall, most thieves are just common shmucks....

I was wrong...

I'm not harshing out on you here.... sounds like you have a pretty decent deterrent to this scenario (as do many who responded likewise)... that means you have thought about this and come up with a solution as well.... this thread doesn't need to make you think about it.... but it probably should make some others....

Hey, my girlfriend made the argument against nightstand gun to me.... just think how hard it was to admit she was right?.... lol

If someone has gotten into your house, and the only security you have around your gun on your nightstand is a sleeping you, you might be in for a very rude awakening (pun intended)... Thats all I'm really getting at....

 

[scoutsabout]

An empty or locked-up gun is useless in a time of need.

Don't arm your enemy.

Hold your cards close to the chest, tilt the odds in your favor, and when the time comes... try to empty the gun into him before he hits the ground.

 

[RoostRider]

Again.... I am not advocating locking up your night security gun....

I'm totally with you on the "don't arm your enemy" part though.... especially while you sleep and with the gun from your nightstand....

I AM advocating keeping your gun in a place where a burglar won't be able to easily get at it while you slumber....

 

[Bovice]

wear a loosely fitting "wild west" style belt and holster appropriate to your pistol while you sleep. You get extra credit for having two guns on you. The one in your pants does not count. Now, you can draw under the covers, fake being asleep when the burglar comes in the room, and PEWPEWPEW you shoot him through the sheets. Talk about surprise and massive cool points.

 

[RoostRider]

Gotta wonder if the girlfriend would find that better, or worse than nightstand gun....

 

[Guillermo]

wear a loosely fitting "wild west" style belt and holster appropriate to your pistol while you sleep

Bovice id right. In addition wear cowboy boots. The sight of you naked, wearing boots and a couple of six guns will scare the heck out of an intruder. Or perhaps they will roll on the floor laughing and be an easy target.

Gotta wonder if the girlfriend would find that better, or worse than nightstand gun

The girlfriend should do the same

 

[Harold Mayo]

...and spurs, you gotta have spurs, too....