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ELB wrote:People rarely get shot accidently with loaded guns -- they get shot accidently with "unloaded" guns. I suspect you use the empty chamber as a crutch to make up for lack of confidence in your training and habits.

Thanks, ELB. I was trying to put this into words, but you articulated it perfectly!

jdrudd wrote:However, I cannot bring myself to do this.

Ever since owning my first gun, as well as the years before while growing up and getting tutelage from my elders, I was always taught to treat any gun as if it were loaded. However, it always meant "more" when there was actually a round in the chamber. Before getting my CHL, and even before that, having a gun on my nightstand for home protection, I also thought that I could not bring myself to keeping a round in the chamber.

Since then, I've done a complete analysis of what is at stake. I thought long and hard about my philosophy about treating every gun as if it were loaded. Specifically, as if there was a round in the chamber at ALL times. With this level of thinking and awareness, it has made me feel more secure about actually having a round in the chamber. I wouldn't necessarily call it desensitizing as much as homogenizing. I always think every gun has that sense of urgency. This respect, believe it or not, has allowed me to be more comfortable with carrying in condition 1.

As always, the #1 safety is the one between your ears. Good luck!