Deadly force ?

Leaving a loaded gun unattended by accident is not a rational comparison to leaving one on the bedstand on purpose. How can a loaded gun kill anyone if the trigger isn't pulled?

If I understand correctly, it's just you and the wife in the home. If thats the case, unless you guys start playing with it like a toy, there's no way it could go off on it's own.

I'm definitely not following your logic on why it makes you uncomfortable, but I do agree that if it's outside your comfort zone, don't leave it there.
 
windjammer said:
I have an electronic pistol safe next to my bed. The door is spring loaded. A light comes on for a few seconds when the door opens. I have the safe because of neighbors kids....I know how kids are.

When I go to bed, I open the safe. When I get up I close it. I know many do not trust anything electronic. I've used it for years with no problems. Change the batteries when Daylight Savings time changes..works for me.
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This sounds like a great idea...and I like it. I just have to think about my comfort level around that ...what if I forget...or get called away in the night and forget to close it. What if? Those kinds of things...is it worth it to me? Some nephew stops over and what... bang. I just want to make smart choices for myself.
 
Dryrider, you show a certain amount of naivety when it comes to defending your home. Just being in the Army doesn't prepare you for home defense.

A handgun loaded, with a lock, or in a safe, is very little protection at all. At 3:00AM, you will not be roused from a sound sleep and be prepared to defend yourself or your wife. If someone has entered your home, and they can be almost noiseless, and no matter how you think, they can be on top of you before you know it. Any intruder who is closer than 21 feet will be on top of you before you can open a lock or a bedside safe.

Unattended guns do not go off by themselves. You, or your wife, have an inordinate fear of a loaded gun. You may as well have an unloaded gun, as to have one with a trigger lock, or put in a bedside safe.

Your marksmanship badge only means that you can hit a target at 75 meters-plus with an M16, or a Beretta M9 at about 10 meters. Hardly the measure of hitting a target in dim light, when you're scared, your heartbeat is running at 180bpm, and the adrenaline is flowing like water through your veins.

Firing warning rounds, as others have mentioned is not to be done. If you've had basic infantry training, you have undoubtedly learned not to give away your location needlessly. Warning rounds do that. And a warning shot will probably go through your water heater.

Perfect practice makes perfect. You can't leave the gun by the bedside and expect to protect yourself. The real world doesn't work that way.
 
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Gosh Dennis...I wish I was as smart as you. Protecting your home comes in all sizes. Not everyone that ownes a gun is going to be as ready as the next...I understand that! Does everyone on this forum have a loaded unlocked gun on the bed stand?
 
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If you think that we're all leaving loaded guns sitting around unattended when there's a chance someone could find it, you're wrong and I think this is the flaw in your thinking. I have a loaded handgun on my nightstand every night, when I go to bed I carry it upstairs with me and put it on the nightstand with a flashlight. In the morning when I get up I take it downstairs with me, holster it and, if the kids are home, I put it in the kitchen cabinet, if they're not it goes on the kitchen counter. When I leave for work, if I'm not carrying that gun it gets put away in the safe for the day. BUT, I never leave a gun sitting by the bed all day long, it goes with me. Why can't you just take yours and put it away in the morning?
 
Dryrider, you asked for information, gave a reason for the information, and then commented on the reasons in following posts. Then you get somewhat defensive and short with the posters.
This IS a gun board that the members cherishes their right to carry. In a backhand way you insulted the ones who do carry, keep a firearm handy at home, etc. While I appreciate your military service, a large number of these fellows served, most all of them opted for more firearm training.
I think you need to reread these posts and maybe consider some of the advice, most is good, and consider obtaining a carry permit. Just my opinion.
Butch
 
dryrider said:
Because I'm naive and lack training and discipline.
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Seriously. The lock is just going to get in your way, I don't care how much you practice. If your concern is the gun sitting out all day when your not around, put it out when you go to bed, put it away when you get up. Problem solved.
 
My loaded, unlocked gun isn't on the bedstand, it's in a holster that has an arm that goes between the mattress and box spring. I've used it about a year. It seems the perfect setup for a gun in the bedroom. The piece in question is a Colt Series 70 45, with one in the chamber and the safety on.
 
dryrider said:
Gosh Dennis...I wish I was as smart as you. Protecting your home comes in all sizes. Not everyone that ownes a gun is going to be as ready as the next...I understand that! Does everyone on this forum have a loaded unlocked gun on the bed stand?
Click to expand...

Yes, I have a Colt Combat Commander in condition one, right beside the bed; along with a flashlight, telephone land line, and my cell phone. I also have loaded handguns in several other places, since I may not be in our bedroom if someone decides to break in. I also have a couple of Remington 870's, loaded with #4 buckshot.

Home defense is not just having a gun by the bedside. It's systemic thinking, a state of mind, and a way of life. No, I'm not paranoid. Just prepared.
 
Does everyone on this forum have a loaded unlocked gun on the bed stand?
Click to expand...

No. I don't have a bedside table so I keep mine within reach on the bookcase headboard of my bed.:D
 
dryrider said:
Does everyone on this forum have a loaded unlocked gun on the bed stand?
Click to expand...

In the bed stand's drawer in my case. My holster comes off my belt when I go to bed and into the drawer. There's always a 642 loaded with +P HydraShoks within reach. It sits next to the Surefire light and the phone, and a couple speed strips of extra ammo.

When I first owned guns, I asked a lot of the same questions you are now, although most of my questions revolved around carrying my 1911 with an empty chamber. There were lots of polite replies suggesting I train and practice and get used to carrying cocked'n'locked, and a few more strident ones suggesting the same thing. It boiled down to confidence in myself and trust in my tools.

Now I carry either a DA revolver or a cocked'n'locked 1911.

You do what makes you feel good, but don't be offended when people first try to answer your questions politely, and then a bit more harshly when you get cranky with them.
 
Cordwood...I guess I reacted poorly when Dennis said "Dryrider, you show a certain amount of naivety when it comes to defending your home." I did not intend to insult the board...my apologies to those I offended!
 
You may not be comfortable carrying but since you have a military background I fail to see the issue there, besides do you really want to be caught in a defensive situation away from the home and think, oh man I wish I had my gun with me? If you have a gun for protection how can it protect if it isn't with you. I'm so comfortable with my carry gun I feel naked if I don't have it. When I sleep it stays in a bedside holster. No one can touch it but me. That's a lot safer than leaving it behind in more ways than one. The rest of my guns stay locked up until I go to the range.
 
My advice would be to take a CCW course. A real one taught by an LEO or very experienced instructor that offers range time. Forget the two hour deal at the local gun show. You don't have to get your permit if you don't want to but you will still increase your comfort level.

Do not, repeat, do not try to read the law in MN and profess to understand it because you won't. Let somebody with real world experience explain it to you in the class and answer any questions.

Were it me, I'd ask wifey to join me. She has a right to protect herself when you're not around. And two guns are better than one when you are around.

Bob
 
Dryrider-in addition to some very good advice others have given, you over rate the delay that your doors/windows will give you until an intruder is close enough to strike.

Depending upon house layout and where you happen to be at the time of entry, an intruder may be as close as 3 seconds to you. If you watched the Supreme Court proceedings on the DC weapons law, you saw/heard Chief Justice Roberts go through the procedure under DC law: hear noise, sit up in bed, turn on the lamp, get the reading glasses to see the lock.......... If the Supreme Court felt that requiring a defensive firearm to be locked up was unreasonable, that's a clue!

You do, however, have a point. A ready weapon must always, invariably be safely secured if it's out of your immediate control. This is why many carry the weapon within the home.
 
When I took the class a couple of years ago you could only defend yourself. If a guy picked up your tv and was walking out the door you had to let him go. I'd recommend taking the class even if you don't plan to carry. It will give you a whole different perspective on what might happen to you if you do shoot, even in self defense.
 
Huh? Some pretty crazy stuff posted here.

I can count at least seven guns located around my house (not talking about my safe here) and you damn well better believe they are unlocked and completely ready to be fired.

I would submit that someone that is uncomfortable with a loaded and ready to fire gun in their house will be in no position..mentally, to kill someone in that split second that you may have to decide.

Nothing wrong with that at all. Perhaps getting a guard dog or a good alarm system just might scare off the bad guys. Who knows?

Oh, and for those that are relying on a noise such as breaking glass, etc., to give you fair warning to open up your safe or lock box, good luck. You had better hope that the intruder is someone strung out on drugs or an amateur. But how do you know?
 
Worrying about a nephew playing with a loaded gun and shooting a bad guy in the face are to different things.
 
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