keeping a gun next to the bed is a bad idea, you need to keep it away so you have to get up to get it. there have been many cases where a loved one was killed because someone was woken up in the night to a noise and grabed there gun and shot. one here in ohio where a man came home late and went to bed, heard a noise and grabed his gun. saw a shadow in the hall and shot at it. he didn't know his 18 year old daughter was out with friends as her mother let her but didn't tell the dad, he though everyone was home. he is doing life in prision for her murder.
on a happier note, find something that will fit in your hands well and get to know the gun at a range. you don't want your training and finial test to happen in 2 seconds if you ever need to use it. stay with a good brand weapon, Glock, S&W, Springfield, ect.