RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
I definately do not, (DO NOT) keep one in the chamber.
If I hear a noise in my house, I am getting my semi, and then chambering one. I have a wife who has night terrors on occasion, I have a young son who will be walking soon. I need to make darn sure of my target before firing. Irresponsibility like this is reason us gun owners have to work so hard these days.
I have witnessed 2 accidents with a firearm being fired in a house by keeping one in the chamber. And sadly enough, one time was my fault. Because I always insisted in one in the chamber. I get home from work one night when I was in college, and put my gun down I always carried, and my drunk room mate came in and all heard next was BOOM. Shot a 9mm straight thru the wall into the oven.