Bassbob
Emissary
Everything ain't for everybody. But hoping someone who just did a home invasion is actually a coward who will run from the sound of a shotgun cocked is more of a chance than I am willing to take.It's true. I do not keep my guns in condition one, aside from my EDC. These guns are stored fully loaded but not with a round in the chamber. I believe under the conditions of retrieving these firearms allows me time to rack them. I train my family in doing this - and don't believe that the three seconds it takes to 'rack' the firearm extends the danger. We don't sleep with our firearms, although they are only a step and reach away. If the three seconds costs me myself or my family - I don't think the situation would have likely turned out differently, had they all been chambered. A small measure of common-sense safety in my opinion.
As for the noise: I can only hope. I don't have a high opinion of anyone who has invaded my home. I would have to consider them cowards by nature if by night and complete idiots if done by day. Myself, my Wife and my oldest Son EDC. I think we will have to agree to disagree on these points.
I taught my family to keep their finger off the trigger until it's time to shoot. Just me and the wife these days and no worries about innocent people materializing in my house in the middle of the night.
3 seconds is 2 seconds longer than it takes to change your life. Hopefully you train/drill, manipulating these unloaded firearms with adrenalin racing through your body and brain. I do, nevertheless clicking a safety off a shotgun is the only sound you could possibly hear if I have decided it's time to go.