I keep my pistol unloaded with the slide locked back with a loaded magazine separate but nearby within easy reach. All I have to do is put the mag in and send the slide home and it's ready to shoot (Springfield XD). I also have my shotgun with 4 rounds of 00 buck in the mag tube, chamber empty, in a high place. The reason I do this is to compromise between readiness and keeping a loaded gun away from my very inquisitive 4 and 2 year old kids. If I were living without kids in the house, I'd have one locked and loaded all the time. I do not carry concealed, since I cannot get a CCW permit in my county in Iowa (our liberal democrap sheriff does not issue except in exceptional cases, and according to current stupid Iowa law, he has the final and unappealable say on the matter). However, if I did, I'd alway carry with a round chambered.

Mike