Due to unforeseen circumstances, The Back-Up bedside gun rack didn’t make our list of “10 Gifts for that Gun Nut in Your Life.” To make up for that oversight, we’re talking about it today.

But why buy a bedside holster? Good question.

Although it’s probably not the best idea for someone with sleepwalking issues (or an alcohol/Ambien problem), bedside holsters are touted as essential for home safety. While not on the same level as simply locking the front door, it’s up there. These almost-under-the-pillow holsters give your shotgun a secure resting place until there’s a code red alert.

The Back-Up ($39.95) guarantees you direct access to your gun without having to turn your back on any intruder. Plus, that’d be rude, right? Heck, you can even draw your weapon while lying down — though that’s also probably not recommended. Additionally, the holster can be placed on either side of the bed (perhaps for a partner?) or collapsed for travel purposes.

While The Back-Up provides one form of bedside holsters, this market is teeming with competition.

The Bedside Holster ($19.95) – Its website recommends you use this holster for a regular ol’ pistol … or pepper spray, stun guns, mace, shocking devices, cell phones, pagers, flashlights… Well, basically anything that fits in a holster. A banana perhaps? That would make midnight snack consumption a snap!

HolsterMate ($18.95) – This no-frills, universal bedside holster comes with Velcro backing that ensures a no-slip placement. Slip off your belt holster and place it on a flat device that hangs off the mattress side. It works with all clip-style holsters on either side of the bed.

Midnite Bed Holster ($49.95) – We’ll overlook the misspelling of midnight, but we can’t look past the fact that this bed holster claims to be “the original.” The Midnite Bed Holster creators warn to “NOT be fooled by imitations.” Meanwhile, we haven’t seen a single imitation of this specific holster, so we’re not really sure to what they are referring.

Ultimate Bed Holster ($22.67) – Oh my, you can really pimp this holster. Available in 17 different colors (even camo!), this bedside companion inserts between the mattress and box springs and uses Velcro to adapt to any gun type. While its design appears simple, we’re not really sure how secure it is to leave your weapon encased in Velcro only inches away from where you sleep. Maybe that’s just us.

The Pillow Pal ($14.95) – With a cursory glance at its promotional picture, The Pillow Pal appears to have been all the rage in the 1980s. What beautiful woman in full makeup with a perfectly styled coif didn’t carry a pistol next to her magnificent floral comforter during this decade? Oh, and the makers suggest you use the holster for a TV remote or even a baby monitor. Again, as mentioned previously, we’re sticking with the banana. And if you don’t eat it within a week, you’ll get some nice bedside fruit flies, which could potentially keep unwanted bedroom guests out anyway.