I'm not really addressing the light issue because I can sleep in total darkness now. But the gun next to the bed is a little scary.

I wake up in a state of "Who, What, When, Where" for about a minute until I realize what is going on.

I don't want to be a hypocrite because I have a pocket knife securely tucked into it's case on my night stand. But prior to that I had a big butcher knife between my mattresses along with 3 or 4 steak knifes. When my son was about 5 years old the butcher knife had some how lodged it's way out from between the mattresses and he cut his foot real bad on it. So I realized that wasn't a good idea, and removed the knife.

If your the only one that lives there and never expects company I guess it would be OK, but if you life with people that is very dangerous because if you wake up like I do (ready to fight) some one might get hurt.

I realize that knife next to my stand is a no no, but I think by the time I find it, and get it out of it's case, and then open it I will be wide awake and able to think clearly. I'm working on trying to remove it, but I just can't do it right now.

I feel like a hypocrite, but a gun seems so powerful. If you don't live alone maybe you could move the gun to across the room until you feel you can sleep without it. At least that way by the time you got to it you will be thinking more clearly.

Take care
Tammy