Man shoots self while sleeping

[AEA]

This is an AP report.
I have a 642 under my pillow, but I don't think it will go off like this. I bet it was a .40 cal striker fired pistol.

Alabama man sleeps with gun and shoots himself
Apr 30, 9:14 PM (ET)

NORTHPORT, Ala. (AP) - A 24-year-old man likely will rethink his habit of sleeping with a gun after police said his 40-caliber pistol discharged and hit him in the shoulder on Wednesday. A police detective said the wound was not life threatening.

The shooting at his apartment complex was ruled an accident.

[dcphoto]

It wasn't an accident. No such thing as an accidental discharge.

[ghostrider]

Insufficient information to draw reasonable conclusion.

I could speculate, though :-)

[ScubaSigGuy]

I wonder what he did to make her mad .

It's hard to believe that there isn't more to the story, or at least someone else involved. I slept with a 229 .40 under the pillow next to me for years, when I was single.

[atxgun]

I personally wouldn't choose that location for "nightstand storage", I believe that's what's the nightstand's for. I'll speculate and guess he was violating one of the four rules by not keeping his finger out of the trigger guard as he went to sleep.

[ClarkLZeuss]

While breaking in my holster, I would wear it all evening (with gun in it) while watching TV. Problem is, I often fall asleep there (and then wake up and go to bed). Now, I'm not worried about an AD while it's holstered, and it wasn't uncomfortable or anything. But in the same way that I sleep-talk, and a few times I've sleep-walked, I worry that I might sleep-shoot.

[Beiruty]

My dad used to keep his Government issued Browning FNHB HP-9 in its holster under his pillow. No issue what so ever for like some 15 yrs. In retrospect, easy access to us teens at the time was the real problem. I still remember that Dad's pistol was never loaded at home.

[barres]

There are many documented cases of people on sleep medicines (Ambien comes to mind) that have done many things while essentially sleep-walking and not been aware of it. Heck of a way to wake up, though!

[LaserTex]

I don't think your supposed to finger your trigger while sleeping...

Doug

[Keith B]

Maybe he was having a wonderful dream about being at the range and practicing his squeeze of the trigger.

[Pun1sher]

so... he had it cocked, loaded, AND his finger was on the trigger... riiiighttt...

[barres]

Another thought on this occurred to me. Most people, when they go to sleep, are essentially paralyzed because the part of the brain that controls movement shuts down. But there are a few of us (yes, I'm one of them) who move around while they sleep. I had long suspected as much about myself, but it was confirmed when I had to do a sleep study to see if I had sleep apnea. Apparently, I move around even when I am deeply asleep. I don't get up out of bed (though I've fallen out a time or two ), but I toss and turn, often all night.

Combine that with the stories we've all heard (and some of us have seen) with things getting caught in the trigger guard, causing a gun to fire, and see what you come up with. A pillow on top of a pistol or revolver, the pillowcase gets into the trigger guard, the sleeper rolls over and his arm goes under the pillow (without him being aware of it), the handgun moves in just the wrong way, and BLAM!

[gunlock]

To everyone who says you shouldn't sleep with a gun under your pillow, I have two sets of pillows on my bed and have slept with a pistol under the set that I wasn't sleeping on. Done that many times and no issues. Are these people actually sleeping on the same pillow as their gun? That seems kinda silly (and uncomfortable).

[DoubleJ]

I can't possibly fathom having a pistol under my pillow. I have a BedSideTable, and that's what it's for (other than my cellphone and glasses).
I guess if you're worried about someone sneaking in while you're asleep, and taking THAT gun, well, you need claymores, or a better bedroom door!

I heard somewhere that the only thing sleeping with a gun under your pillow does is give you a headache!