Poll Do You Sleep With A Gun Under Your Pillow?

[TSG]

Nownull, speaking from personal experience, if you do get a gun, get one that is not semi-automatic and is short. I reached for my husband's 9mil and it was taken from me like candy from a baby during my kidnapping and assaults. Had I had a short revolver it may have stopped it all, honestly.

I also had two small dogs with me who were totally worthless. They just whimpered and licked my face as I was screaming and being raped. My husband bought me a German Shepherd puppy two months later and that dog literally has saved my life. I was trapped in my house, unable to even open the door but focusing on her made it possible. Now, I can go outside but have to take her with me. Without her, I would never leave. With her, I have even been able to walk around the block, sometimes. I also feel very secure with her as she is very, very protective of me.

In short, if you aren't familiar with guns I don't recommend it. They can be used against you, most definitely (and I am one who was raised around them and am an expert marksman) and a big dog is a great gift to a damaged life.

 

[EloiseLandau]

I used to sleep with a knife under my pillow. I've gotten to the point where I sleep with a plushy dinosaur, and he eats my bad dreams and comforts me

I'm in my 30's by the way.

 

[JoeNavy]

i am so glad guns are pretty much illegal in the UK. They are so unecessary

I disagree. If I am attacked or my family is attacked, things will be different this time. I would not be able to function without my guns....

 

[Deleted member 12723]

No gun, but years ago I slept with a big knife under my pillow. I was living in an area that wan't too safe. But i haven't done anything like that in so many years.

 

[superman1496]

I used to sleep with one under my pillow, but since I don't have my gun anymore, I sleep with my knife always with me, either under the pillow or next to me. And I will absolutely go no where without it on me.

 

[Philippa]

No gun. I do keep a blade under my pillow though...it's a craft one which you can slide up, so very sharp and would only need a quick jab in the right place on an attackers throat and they would be too busy bleeding to death to bother with me. I also have a plastic baseball batt right next to my bed and several martial arts sticks all around my room.

I also keep a tiny canister of pepper spray with me...it's a Hello Kitty key chain spray. Melbourne feels fairly safe, and mostly I will walk alone at night or during the day and be fine...but a place where most people are good and it feels safe can be dangerous as that's a perfect place for a weirdo to live and prey...where people feel safe. I keep that in mind wherever I go.

I also rely on my insight and knowledge, and have stared down would be assailants in the past and chased them away just with the power of my death stare. Not to be underestimated.Rapists are cowards...they are just as scared as the rest of us. Staring them in the eye sends the message that I am NOT an easy target.

I think it's a good thing to be a little paranoid...keeps the edge on. I also have had martial arts training and am aware of my environment at all times, and what objects could be a weapon if I was without one. Almost anything can be a weapon if you use your imagination.

 

[jibber]

I would never buy a gun. When my PTSD was uncontrolled, before I even realized I had problem, I couldn't sleep without a hatchet under my bed (yeah, I was just SLIGHTLY in denial). Now I've just got a couple of cans of bear mace in my front closet, but they've nothing to do with feeling secure when I sleep and more to do with my fear of grizzlies when I go hiking or camping or mountain biking.

 

[Seeka]

Not under my pillow, but in my nightstand. I have more than one gun, plus several knives and other weapons hidden in various places of the house in case I am somewhere in the house that I can't make it to the gun. I have a knife and taser in my purse as well. Sigh.....

 

[Dethuan]

I'm afraid of hand guns and i cant fit a rifle under my pillow so i make do with a knife i always keep with me.

 

[G Stuart]

Who sleeps? If I slept, I probably would.

 

[jalahay315]

Do you sleep with a gun under your pillow?

At a time when I truly had someone to fear, I slept one night with a knife under my pillow. To be honest, I do not own a gun because there are too many occasions in which I might do something stupid with it.

 

[Hashi]

I understand the motivation to keep a weapon close, but have to admit I'm reeling a bit from seeing this thread. I'm in the UK and I'm glad that I don't even have the option of getting a gun, taser, pepper spray etc. It means they're much harder for anyone else to obtain too.

Of course, I have access to knives, but I wouldn't carry a weapon or keep one near me because I've done a self defence course which emphasised that in most cases - unless you're a trained professional - in a crisis you're unlikely to use the weapon quickly enough, with enough skill and accuracy, or at all. it could escalate the situation just by being there and even be taken off you and used against you. Perhaps this is different in countries where guns are normal and people can have training and practice?

At any rate, I learnt other defensive techniques that make me feel safer - nothing fancy, just things that are doable and effective like calling for help in a way that people will respond to and attacking someone's eyes. Not a nice thought, but nor is stabbing or shooting and I feel safer without a knife than with one.