Two Questions: Sleep & Guns

[Monique]

Thanks for providing this forum. I find it very informative!

Hopefully, soon I'll be working as a Forensic Specialist and have two questions:

1. I know that every department has a different way of handling the on call schedule. In general, how difficult is it to adjust to being called into work at all hours of the day & night?

2. So many CSI shows have their investigators running around with a gun as if they were cops. Is this only to spice things up for TV? Or is carrying a gun a posibility - perhaps based on whether the position is a civillian or sworn position?