Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

Do you have one? Would you? My dad has always had at least 1-2 baseball bats under his bed. He keeps a tire iron or metal pipe handy in his car and sometimes, if he gets access to my car, I find a brand new "weapon," in there.

My dad would never own a gun, even after being in the Air Force, but there is no way I can talk him out of the baseball bat thing.

Two stories come to mind that cause me to question the safety of this.

One night when I was in my early 20s, a friend of mine stopped by at about 11:30 PM. He wasn't sure if he would be waking anyone, so he tapped lightlly on the door. My dad thought someone was breaking in, so he went to get his baseball bat. Dad went into the garage and opened the door. My friend approached the door. He could see my dad's legs first, then the bat. He was like, "huh?" They exchanged some words that my dad initially misunderstood. Finally my dad understood that my friend was asking if I was home. They both laughed about it. Years later, that same friend jokingly went after my dad with an inflatable baseball bat. It all became very funny. I still wonder if we would all be laughing if my dad went into the garage with a gun or if he realized too late that it was my friend.

The summer I was home for the bar exam, one night I was downstairs in the kitchen studying all night. My dad peeked in from upstairs and just said goodnight. The next day, he admitted that he woke up confused about why the kitchen light was on and he had his baseball bat in his hand when he peeked down and saw me. I'm glad he didn't have a gun!!!

I have read that people who are woken suddenly can be disoriented for 2-3 full minutes and that is a natural reaction of danger if you are woken mid-sleep. In fact, that is the same reason that some dogs bite when you try to move them while they are asleep.

My cleaning lady has said that all of her customers from my dad's generation have the baseball bat.

Message edited 5/13/2009 7:40:00 PM.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

I don't think my parents ever kept a bat by their bedside.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

We have a mini bat under our bed

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

All I have are sweater boxes and an occasional truck that falls behind there

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

Before ds was born dh always had some sort of weapon (bat or sword) in the bedroom. Now that ds is here we only have one on the top of the closet but no guns are allowed in my home.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

Nope, we have no weapons in or near the bed.

I don't live my life in fear of anything, I tend to think positively, and see no need to keep weapons near my sleeping quarters.

eta...sometimes I let my husband bring his "love gun" to bed with him.

Message edited 5/13/2009 6:15:06 PM.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

My husband has a steel baseball bat near his side of the bed, always has.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

I never even heard of something like that.

no, we have no 'weapons'.....

what's with all the weapons under the bed, anyway?

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

My dad always gave me and my 2 sisters a weapon to keep under the bed or at our bedside. I always had a heavy plumber's wrench by my side. He told us it was for breaking out of our window in case of a fire or to fight off an attacker. My dad hates confrontation so I cannot really see him using a weapon himself but if it is necessary, he has one under his bed to this day. My parents were burglarized once [thank goodness they weren't home] but I wonder if my dad would have used his weapon.

Now that I am an adult, I keep a firearm next to my bed and so does my husband. God help the fool who decides to break into our house.

ETA: When my kids are older, I will have them keep a weapon [such as a bat] handy as well.

Message edited 5/13/2009 6:34:45 PM.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

Posted by KateDevine

All I have are sweater boxes and an occasional truck that falls behind there

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

DH keeps a knife on his side of the bed, the kind that flips open. (he knows how to do martial arts with it- had like a decade of training back in the day )

Message edited 5/13/2009 7:36:54 PM.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

When I was growing up (in Queens) my parents kept a Louisville slugger in the living room...and had to use it once when someone was trying to steal our car (my dad chased them!)

I have to say, I live in NJ now and have an alarm - BUT - I have thought about getting a bat and keeping it near me. I have a fear of someone bypassing my alarm or it not alerting the police and someone coming into our bedroom.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

DH has a bat under his side of the bed.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

Posted by Palebride

Posted by KateDevine

All I have are sweater boxes and an occasional truck that falls behind there

I have old pocketbooks and spare pillows.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

no guns in the house while I was growing up, but my mom kept a hammer in her nightstand drawer. My dad was an airline pilot (now retired), he was not home a lot.

Times are different now.. I remember one time we accidentally left the garage door open, and the door inside the garage to the house was unlock for a week, while my whole family went to Disney World.. nothing happened when we got home. Now a day there are so many home invasions it's crazy

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

we have a metal bat under our bed. i've had one since i was about 15.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

Message edited 11/28/2011 9:23:14 PM.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

i have alot of dust bunnies and dog hair under there but i guess to my dyson they are weapons

but seriously no no weapons

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

I have a smelly sock under my bed. That would knock someone out in a heartbeat.

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

Posted by EmmaNick

Posted by lipglossjunky73

Posted by Malishka31

DH keeps a knife on his side of the bed, the kind that flips open. (he knows how to do martial arts with it- had like a decade of training back in the day )

Any hand grenades in the kitchen?

Just want to make sure you have every room covered.....

Re: Not a joke. Let's talk about baseballs bats (or tire irons) under the bed

Posted by PrincessP

Posted by EmmaNick

Posted by lipglossjunky73

Posted by Malishka31

DH keeps a knife on his side of the bed, the kind that flips open. (he knows how to do martial arts with it- had like a decade of training back in the day )

Any hand grenades in the kitchen?

Just want to make sure you have every room covered.....

OMG