Edit: It seems to me that a parent who keeps a gun on his bedside table is asking for trouble

anyone is really. I keep a pistol safe by my bedside. Protected from curious houseguests / children and I can keep one in the chamber ready to go. It takes like a second to open, no big deal.

The antique gun is probably less dangerous than a modern one for that reason, but it's still a gun. Would hope that it's nonfunctional.