[BDBiker]

This reminds me of when I was bowhunting in Alaska and my companion was carring a .375 H&H magnum rifle. We ran face to face with a extremely large Brown Bear and he went into panic mode trying to get a round in the chamber of his rifle. I told him to FREEZE and the bear decided to leave us alone and I am alive to tell the story.
I gave him a serious ass chewing for NOT having a round in the chamber, he said that he was afraid that it was dangerous to carry a round in the chamber. If that bear had charged us, my only defense was my knife and his empty rifle.
Short version is that in a panic situation, the last thing in world you want to do is have to load a round in the chamber when your life hangs in the balance. If you feel that your weapon is not safe with a round in the chamber, get a firearm that IS SAFE with a round in the chamber!
So YES, I always have a round in the chamber, and I ALWAYS carry at least one handgun at ALL times.