Sometimes, sometimes I carry a small 38 special or my .22mag mini-revolver. My parents gave me my first gun when my husband went to Japan on deployment. Brandishing a firearm prevented my from harm 2 times (both at my home). Back then you didn't need permission to exercise the RKBA. When I was a little girl my mom always had her .22 revolver in her tackle box when we went fishing. She said it was for snakes. Whatever. We fished whereever we wanted and never had a problem with snakes, including the 2 legged kind.
The thought of not have a firearm of some sort on the nightstand is such a forgien concept. I have a "permit" to carry my gun but there are so many forbidden places it's almost not worth the problem. I do always carry a nice folder, it's better than fingernails.