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Please don't judge me, I am a new gun owner waiting on my CHL. I have moderate experience handling different types of firearms, but I only recently purchased one of my own for self-defense purposes. I go to the range twice a week so it's not like I bought one without knowing how to use it. I would like to feel comfortable leaving a round chambered in my gun on my nightstand but I'm curious about sleepwalking. I've searched the forums and didn't find much on this topic. In the last six years I've had only one sleepwalking episode that I know of. But I live alone so there isn't always a witness. I've heard of people doing very intricate things like cooking a meal or even driving a car while sleepwalking. I currently have my gun in a safe with a code in the drawer of my nightstand, but I would like it to be more accesible. I would like to think that because I am so safety conscious and trained with firearms that this would carry over into my subconscious mind if I were to ever sleepwalk and pick up my gun. But at the same time I'm afraid I might pick it up and shoot a wall, or my dog, or anything who knows. The safe doesn't really prevent anything other than quick access in a real emergency, because I'm certain if I really wanted to I could open the safe while sleepwalking. Believe me when I say I'm not crazy, but this is a valid concern of mine. Am I over-thinking this? Is anyone on here known to sleepwalk? Do you think it's safe for me to keep a round chambered on my night stand? i'm interested to hear your thoughts or if this has crossed anyone else's mind. Thanks in advance!

I'm not expert at all on sleep walking, but I would think that unwanted gun incidents are extremely rare among people who walk in their sleep. I doubt you are the only gun owner that walks in their sleep. I am not saying that an unwanted incident would never happen, but I think I am safe in saying that it is rare and unlikely.

If you live alone, how did you know you were sleepwalking?

Are you taking Ambien or a similar sleep medication? I know of several veterans with combat-related sleep disorder that have had very intricate sleep walking episodes with Ambien. My buddy (a combat vet) awoke in his underwear, in his car, 3 blocks from his house (he had driven there). He was taking Ambien. If you are not taking Ambien--I would not worry.

I think you may have a legitimate concern with a gun on your night stand and sleep walking. Have you considered using an alarm to wake you up if you try getting out of bed?

http://val-u-care.com/index.php/basic-b ... AuiK8P8HAQ

There are other types of alarms that go off if someone is trying to get up from a bed or chair.

Are you using Ambien or any other sleep meds?

I sleepwalk sometimes but just put my pistol in a holster with a thumb break. No issues so far.

I am not on Ambien or any sleep aids. I used to sleepwalk a lot as a child according to my parents. The last sleepwalking episode I know of is when I was staying in a hotel in Germany with my mom about six years ago. She saw it, had a good laugh, and told me about it in the morning. I have not tried a bed alarm, and it would probably be annoying because I get up a lot at night either because of my dogs or to use the restroom. The concept of sleepwalking didn't even cross my mind until I bought a gun. I guess there isn't much to worry about since I'm not on any meds. Thank you everyone!

Lauren,

You may be receiving nonexpert critical advice from nonexperts, so I will play devil's advocate simply to encourage you to make your own decision after giving the problem serious consideration. I offer no advice; I simply relate a tale.

Until a couple of years ago my bedside weapon was the pride and joy of my armory -- a Colt m1911, vintage WWI. I sometimes call it "a real 1911."

The m1911 was on my bedside table to my left, my wife in bed to my right. It was my practice, for reasons of common everyday safety, to not keep a round in the chamber. I have fired thousands of rounds with that fine weapon since acquiring it in the early '60s, mainly in military and NRA bullseye marksmanship competition, including training and firing with the Army Marksmanship Unit. I say that just to point out that I was, and am, intimately familiar with that weapon, my motor skills with it are ingrained, and I have the greatest respect for it as a deadly weapon. I am well-aware of the fact that many experts here are prepared to criticize my not keeping a round in the chamber, but I was prepared to sacrifice the second lost to racking the slide to gain increased safety. I try to live in a real world, not a fantasy world.

I frequently have violent nightmares, my wife often waking me, calming me down, and telling me that I was yelling and fighting with pirates or Indians, or such. A couple of years ago when she woke me I was holding the m1911 and, had she not waked me and calmed me down, my next automatic action might well have been unconsciously racking the slide, and then .... Who knows?

I had, and have, no doubt but that the likelihood of a nighttime breaking and entry is much lower than the likelihood of my having a violent nightmare.

Since that incident I have kept the m1911 in a bedside gun safe which requires me to enter a four digit code for opening. Once again -- sacrificing time to gain safety.

Your question is a valid one, and I must caution your taking casual academic advice from those not having experiences like yours. It is solely your decision.

Most respectfully, to both you and all those who have responded to you with their well-intended advice,

Jim

No special insight or experience in this but ... Would a buzzer that activates when a security box is opened or a gun is moved be enough to wake a sleepwalker? It sounds like sleepwalking usually involves routine functions. One could have an override for quiet buzzerless operation when something DOES go bump in the night, but not make a habit of using it. That way it would not be in the muscle memory.

Just thinking out loud ...

I will look into a buzzer or alarm on the gun itself. But then that would just let the bad guys know where I am. However, I do agree with Jim in that in all of the 33 years I've been on this earth, I have never had a home invasion. I have had a few occurrences of sleepwalking so even though it may be rare, there seems to be a higher probability of a sleepwalking episode than a home invasion.

It is good that you are concerned about the issue, but posing that question here is pointless.
You should start by consulting your regular doctor, and let him/her refer you to a specialist if necessary.

We all have not only legal, but also moral obligations to ourselves, our families, and society in general. So, good for you for your concern. You will likely find it is not a genuine concern, but you owe it to yourself to seek out a definitive answer for your own peace of mind.

It may turn out to be a non issue. If so, then you will know that, and can go about your life in a normal fashion with confidence.
If it is, or may be an issue, then you should make reasonable concessions to your life style as necessary. If there is a legitimate concern, then the answer should be obvious. Don't have a firearm available where you can get at it while in that condition.

You may want to set up a webcam and motion sensor and record a few of your nights to see what you are doing.

Chas.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:You may want to set up a webcam and motion sensor and record a few of your nights to see what you are doing.

Chas.

this would probably be a good idea.

Ambien or a med like it is really the only other thing that I've ever seen that can cause one to be that "functional" yet still be asleep. I knew a guy who would hold entire phone conversations while asleep, problem was he was the boss and the convos weren't entirely appropriate.

I don't think posting the question here was pointless. I got a lot of valuable feedback. I'm capable of making my own sound decisions when it comes to my safety. I was looking for advice and/or experience from other gun owners. Not looking for advice from a doctor, or expecting to get professional advice on a forum. If I felt that I needed professional help, I would certainly seek it elsewhere. Thank you to everyone for your responses.

Lauren3323 wrote:I don't think posting the question here was pointless. I got a lot of valuable feedback. I'm capable of making my own sound decisions when it comes to my safety. I was looking for advice and/or experience from other gun owners. Not looking for advice from a doctor, or expecting to get professional advice on a forum. If I felt that I needed professional help, I would certainly seek it elsewhere. Thank you to everyone for your responses.

Quote from your original post: " I would like to think that because I am so safety conscious and trained with firearms that this would carry over into my subconscious mind if I were to ever sleepwalk and pick up my gun. But at the same time I'm afraid I might pick it up and shoot a wall, or my dog, or anything who knows."

Oh yes. It really sounds like you are capable of making your own sound decisions when it comes to your safety. What about the safety of others ? Who knows ?