Poll Do You Sleep With A Gun Under Your Pillow?

[black_dove]

I used to sleep with a knife under my pillow. I always lock the doors multiple times. I don't have a gun, but my brother - who went through some of the very same traumatic things I did - just got his own apartment by himself. I visited and he has 3 guns! A shotgun, a .22, and rifle that belonged to my grandfather in WW2, that has bullets and is half-loaded. Needless to say I was stunned at all of this and asked why he felt the need to have so many guns in his tiny studio apartment (that is not in a bad area, and is secure entry). His response was that if someone were to come in, he'd be protected. And then he said he used to have recurring nightmares all through childhood and adolescence that someone was breaking in to the house. (None of that ever happened, nor has he ever been exposed to a break-in). After all I have been through and knowing he saw/went through the same things, and knowing what I know now about PTSD, it makes a lot of sense...but I was so sad to see that he feels that frightened and that keyed up....It made what we both went through a bit more 'real'...if that makes sense.

 

[ForestOfPain]

Not a gun, no. But a knife yes...

 

[JJR]

If I had a gun my psyc could commit me to a hospital, my PTSD and depression includes intense anger to the person who killed my son .. part of my therapy is to control this anger . So the answer is no gun anywere in my reach

 

[Kintsugi]

I have weapons all over the house (mostly because B makes them or has them around). Bat by the door, three fire staves on the wall facing the door, a club with a knifeblade attached to it in the desk drawer in front of the staves with several throwing knives and a hunting knife, a knife near the coffee table about 7 feet away from THOSE weapons, a knife in my purse by the door, and a bat B made with a lathe so that there are ridges where you would smack someone stuck between my pillow and the wall next to my bed.

I'm not paranoid...:cautious:

 

[rjtransient]

Nah. In April, the police and the fire service went through the basement of my family's house. It turns out my crazy father has a handgun. I know it's the person who's to blame, not the weapon, but still... too many bad associations.

I have throwing knives. They aren't weapons, though. All I can say to a potential attacker is that I have fast reflexes and good aim.

That said, lots of things would make decent improvised weapons.

 

[Gamereign555]

No, but I have an entire collection of Hilander swords around me and my bed. That's funny, I haven't thought of it that way.

That would just be insane if I had to use a sword to protect myself.
There has been a couple times I felt better knowing that I had the swords around.

 

[reddevil1111]

First, I am a combat vet and yes I have a shotgun and a .45 ...the .45 is in my hand all night so somtimes its not under the pillow. My hand knows the weapon and I hold it all night without letting go. I have been doing this for over 20 years. I have never had an accident.
The area I live in is kinda remote. So the weapons do help with security as well. Local county cops can take over 30 minutes to arrive.
Secondly, you might be anti gun due to your beliefs, but dont you think that taking cars away might be better? They kill more people every year than guns do. Its not the gun thats does evil, its the person who uses it for evil that needs banning.
So many Anti gun people say thay have a knife not an evil gun. Fair enough.
Until your government decides that knifes are bad as well. Look at Britian's ban on knifes.
If you use a weapon to defend yourself, I personally want to bring the best and safest weapon I can. A gun is safe if used properly. I would hate to bring a knife or a billy club to a gun fight.

 

[T33]

No gun, because I like hunting and would hate to lose my license for unsafe storage, other wise yes I would. But there is always a quick open switch blade type of knife on the bedside table and my service bayonet strapped to the led of the table, not so much that I think I need it. But ptsd sufferers need to feel protected or armed when they are at there most defenseless, sleeping. This is an illness of hyper vigilance, so this condition is very understandable. But good luck trying to explain it to someone who notices your ''set up''.

 

[SpokaneSunshine]

After my incident I returned the only gun I had to my ex-husband, so no.

 

[heidi]

If I had a gun, I wouldn't have a life.

 

[Martin Taylor]

No weapons nearby. My dad had a gun and threatened to shoot himself (and maybe us, I was small and don't quite remember). Anyway , the gun disappeared a short time later. Truth is, I never trust weapons 'cause they are not around when you need them. I've earned a couple of senior belts in various martial arts, and in my youthful confidence thought iI would never need anything else. Good thing I never had to find out. I do check the doors and windows locked (twice) before I go to bed. I also feel the overriding need to protect my family.

 

[CraftyCath]

I have answered 'No' to this. Guns are illegal in the UK but I wouldn't have one even if they were.