Extreamly Paranoid or Being Safe?

I have slept with a loaded handgun with an extra magazine next to the bed since I was 20. Whenever I am home or traveling I do the same. Only the fact that I'm in my 5th year as a university student has taken it away from me. As soon as I live in my own apartment or home again, I'll have a service-sized .40 or .45 next to me every night.

It's not paranoia anymore than carrying a spare tire is. You're just preparing for unfortunate contingencies.
 
It is rare that I get spooked like that. Generally I feel the news is in the business of putting fear into people, so I often blow it off as that. The truth is it is something that I probably should have done shortly after I started shooting but for whatever reason didn't. This just pushed me to the point where I thought I needed to be ready. It is understood that the odds are not likley that I will need it. However I probably won't be in a terrible car accident driving home today, but if I am wearing a seat belt could save my life. I live in a second floor (top) condo but as stated that does not mean you can't be in danger. Last year one of my best friends got robbed in the afternoon when he was at work. He came home to find the door wide open and that his DVD player, XBOX and games, laptop, and shotgun had all been stolen. BTW here is the link to the story. Please listen and help if you can. The killer has not been found.



http://www.fbi.gov/news/podcasts/wanted/wanted_072911.mp3/view
 
[So carry a handgun outside the house is not fearful but inside the house it is? Or do you consider CCW folks all full of fear as well?]

You don't see the difference? Again, WOW!
Jerry
 
MrGreen, welcome to TFL.

If having a loaded gun nearby makes you feel safer when you're at home, go for it, say I... Lots of people here keep a handgun on them when they're home.

My only comment is that rather than carrying it around with you, it's probably safer to have it on you, in a good holster. A few reasons why: first, in the unlikely event that you ever need it, you'll know exactly where it is and be able to get to it quickly.. Another reason is that you're much less likely to have a negligent discharge with a holstered gun than with one that you're picking up and setting down all the time, perhaps checking its condition when you do, etc., etc. And finally, if you are ever surprised by an intruder, if the gun is holstered, there'll be just that little delay, the time it takes to unholster the gun, for you to determine if the intruder is actually a threat. If it's a drunken teenager, or a friend of yours, it would suck to pull the trigger before you've figured that out, just because the gun happened to be in your hand and you fired before your brain cut in. :)

(And if you think someone is flaming you, or generally being rude or insulting, just click the report post button under his/her name:
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-- and let the moderators deal with it. They'll be happy to take action if that's indicated, and you won't be adding to any problems...)
 
to the OP, I don't think you're being paranoid per se, I just think that you (like many others here) had a traumatic experience and therefore carry a gun with you. I don't own a handgun but if I did I don't think I would have it near me to the same degree that a lot of people here do (like within arms reach, under the bed, above the bed, etc). As JerryM pointed out, it's about living in fear and I refuse to do.
 
I have had a gun riding the nightstand for years, on more than one occasion I heard something that woke me up in the middle of the night, I got up with pistol in hand, checked the house over, even shined a light around outside. Thus far no one has been there, but that has not stopped me from checking.
 
Wow Jerry you are so articulate. Thanks for sharing whether you own guns, or have a loaded gun in the house, or not. Easy to criticize others when you hide yourown behavior.

You seem very afraid of guns. Are you so paranoid that you do not want one near you at home? Does it scare you?

You are way over extrapolating motive for actions. Obviously you have little understanding self defense and the use of guns. If the gun is not handy it is of no use. Do you think Jeff Cooper was "fearful?" Do you see the difference? Wow!
 
sounds a little paranoid to me, if your place is small then you wouldn't have far to go to retrieve a loaded pistol if need be.
 
Hi NWPilgrim,

Are you confused? The thread is not about me, there was a question and I answered it. My opinion remains and what I do or own has no bearing on the question or my answer, or other's opinions.

Regards,
Jerry
 
Actually you addressed me personally with your Wow! Don't you see the difference? statement. I've explained myself now it is your turn. Wow, you see a difference?!

OK Jerry just answer a simple on topic question. You say it shows fear to carry in your home. Do you consider Jeff Cooper was a "fearful" man? I've asked you a couple of times to clarify your WOW statements. Why it is so surprising to you that some folks see no difference carrying at home, at church, at the mall? Why do you label carrying at home fearful?

You are repetitive with your critical labeling of others, yet very resistant to explain your criticism or how you otherwise live without fear. Some people could call that not being fear-less but pollyanna or wishful thinking or naive.
 
Paranoia is a mental illness. Are you mentally ill? I don't think so.

[Note: I haven't posted in awhile. There are aspects of this site that have kinda bummed me out. But this thread is worth my chiming in on.]

MrGreen: I don't find your behavior unnatural or alarming.

But do bear in mind that a gun is not a magic talisman to ward off evil. It is merely a tool. If you have mastered the use of that tool, it only makes sense to have it handy when it conceivably might be needed.

I think the analogies to spare tires, fire extinguishers and first aid kits are quite valid. Just having those things won't help you if you have not learned and practiced using them.

A spare tire won't help if you've never changed one and don't know how to place or operate the jack. In addition to merely having a fire extinguisher, you need to know how to maintain it and deploy it (aim it at the base of the flames), plus general rules of fire safety. Similarly, there's a lot more to first aid than opening up the first aid kit. And having the kit won't teach you how to perform CPR, for example.

But if you're competent with a handgun, it makes perfect sense to have quick access to one anywhere in your home. I certainly do.

I will mention, though, that living in a condo may mean there are other, innocent people just on the other side of a wall, so you must be aware of your fields of fire and of the danger of overpenetration or a miss.

You should also make your home a hard target and sharpen your situational awareness, so the gun is your last line of defense rather than your first and only one. And it's a good idea to try to avoid confronting an intruder, unless you have no choice.
 
Some excellent points made here. Please do use a holster. If I need to investigate a particularly odd "bump in the night" I will carry a pistol in the holster until I have time to put the holster on. If do you begin carrying routinely the daytime solution becomes simpler: the gun stays on you until you go to bed. A good concealed or open carry holster should be comfortable enough that you don't feel the need to take it off the minute you get home. Also if you haven't already, please consider taking a firearms course or two.

Some will disagree with this but you might want to look into a quick-open safe for the nightstand. They are not terribly expensive and give you the added benefit of keeping the gun out of sight and reach of guests. Plus if you have a "sleep over" guest ;) you may find that the safe makes both of you a little more comfortable, especially until you get to know each other better.

And like so many others have said, don't let it bother you. None of your actions sound to me (in my capacity as a layman) like signs of paranoia. Being that frightened by a news story may seem a little odd but it's certainly not over the top. For all I know there may have been other issues that added to your concern that didn't make it into your post. Being prepared is a good idea no matter how "safe" you feel at the moment. If you find yourself doing a lot of things that make you wonder if you may have a problem, by all means seek professional help. But in the meantime relax. You had a bit of a scare, dealt with it just fine, and you'll get over it soon enough.
 
Hi again, NWPilgrim,

I did not realize that you were the poster. I pay no attention to who says what. When a thread is over I do not remember anything about anyone, except of course the mods.:D

I considered the analogy as ridiculous, and that fact self-evident. If you can see no difference in the security of your home and outside, then I am not sure you could be convinced. Paranoia has that impact.

It is self-evident that to carry a gun from room to room is a fear that is greatly outside the norm of people in the US who do not live in gang areas. I have never known a person who was the victim of a violent crime or a violent entry, or who felt it necessary to carry a gun at home or from room to room. Such fear is unhealthy, and I would characterize it as paranoid. I don't know how a psychiatrist would consider it. I do not know when an unhealthy fear becomes paranoia. Don't really care.
I have known almost no one who believes he needs to carry a firearm routinely. Yet all live out their lives without being attacked.

I do not owe you or anyone an explanation as to my views here. It is take it or leave it. The fact that you did not like my comment or answers is of no consequence to me.
Have a good day.

Regards,
Jerry
 
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First thing,i carry everywhere possible including around my house.I don't want to be scrambbling around trying to find a weapon or have to run for it when i need one.If this makes me paranoid then good,i don't care what people think of me.

Second,if bump in the night is truly a bump in the night i have protection in layers,starting with motion sensor lights,then security camera's inside and out,i have 2 yappy little weiner dogs that stay in.I have the regular locks plus a dead bolt and then a sliding lock that goes strait into the door frame.I lock my bedroom door at night(personal reasons) and have a security camera facing down and out from over my bedroom door to see who comes knocking at night.At night while sleeping i have a S&W 686 357 + a 12 gauge shotgun next to my side of the bed and my wife has a Glock 23 and a 410,all are fully loaded which is another reason we lock our bedroom door at night.

From my bedroom tv i can see any camera inside and out all i need to do is switch channels.If the power should be cut or go out i rely on dogs and my wife who wakes at the sound of a mouse farting across the state of West Virginia.I live in a secluded area,i didn't say safe but we haven't had anything go wrong (yet)

Don't bet your life if all you can do is run.
 
JerryM - I felt the same way as you. I live in a safe place. I didn't know anyone that has been attacked at home. To plan an action for such a remote possibility is a bit over the top. Then one day that all changed for me. Just hasn't been your turn yet. ;)
 
Hi noelf2,
Maybe, but with the population of the US at slightly over 300,000 I doubt it. If so then so be it, but in any case I refuse to be afraid inside and outside of my home.
Certainly there is something to be said for caution, but a fear that results in having a gun on your person at all times, and in a bag while you shower is way over the top in my opinion.

If one lives where drug dealers, and gangs are "next door" it is a different situation. Thankfully I do not have to live in such places, and if my city became so dangerous I needed to have a gun within reach at all times I would move.

In my opinion we get caught up in the thinking of the folks who have what I consider an unhealthy fear, and it feeds on itself.
I know many military, police officers, federal officers, and others who just like guns. Few of them carry off duty or after retirement. None I have ever known have had reason to regret their decision not to carry.

I guess that pretty well summarizes my own opinion. Many here will disagree.
Have a good day.

Regards,
Jerry
 
JerryM, I have at least four friends and family members who might disagree with you as to whether carrying a gun makes sense, and two of those instances occurred at home - in nice neighborhoods outside Honolulu, and outside Worcester MA (homes were out in the rain forest in HI, and out in the woods in MA).

If you don't want to carry at home, that's your prerogative, and odds are no harm will ever come of it.

OTOH, I do carry at home - in part because I think leaving guns lying around in strategic locations is just begging for problems, such as a buddy showing up and unexpectedly bringing his kids along - and it's safer to just have a holstered gun on my person than "hidden" where it might just be found. In part because once I started carrying concealed, I read a lot of advice from trainers who recommended just carrying all the time so I wouldn't feel odd when I carried in public. And in part because I don't really see a down-side.

I have a good job, a good wife, and a good life. People who know me find me to be pretty well adjusted. I don't feel particularly paranoid, nor stressed.

As far as the OP's questions go, what I normally do when I go to bed is leave the pants, with belt, holster, and ammo pouches that I wore that day hanging by the bed, with the gun from the day on the nightstand by a SureFire E2 light. If I need to answer the door, check on a noise, take the dogs out, etc, all I have to do is slip into my pants, fasten the belt, and holster the gun.

I also have a pair of electronic muffs on the nightstand, because if I really think something is happening, I'd rather not bust my ears should I have to use the gun.

I don't baggie the gun and take it into the shower, but I do typically take the carry du jour with me into the bathroom and put it on a counter top. I've read where some home invaders watch for bathroom lights to come on, as a cue that the homeowner probably will be most vulnerable; if I were a home invader, that's how I would operate, so that makes sense to me.

YMMV.
 
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