Depends on what they mean by loaded and the particular 12 year old. If a revolver with an empty chamber under the hammer is "loaded", and it is, having one under your pillow is about like have a pair of brass knuckles under there, from a safety standpoint. Similarly if a semi-auto with an empty chamber.
The operative word is “ Loadedâ€, it might be that the gun was an automatic, with the clip loaded, but no round in the gun, in that case all that would be needed to load the gun is to work the slide, but the gun without working the slide was not loaded. Hey El Gato, how are you doing with El Pero??
I see things pretty much your way. My headboard pistol is a Glock 22, which I keep fully loaded (15+1) but in a holster. It can’t be fired without removing it from the holster which doesn’t take long. If a home invasion is going down I’m aware I might not have long. If I do have time to walk across the room, woe be unto those who have entered my home without authorization and, unfortunately, to some of my stuff as well when I start firing my 12 gauge at them.