My, my... some awfully touchy folks commenting on this thread.

I read the OP as querying about concealed carry. My vote was for one in the chamber at all times, with every firearm, and adhering to all proper safety procedures. Overwhelmingly, the poll numbers agree. As stated in slightly different ways, any pistol without a round chambered is called a club. One would think that a person exercising his/her CC rights would have the confidence and intelligence to carry their weapon of choice in the most effective manor possible; split seconds count when it comes down to self-defense.

The firearm readiness of anyone else while hiking, or whatever, makes no difference to me. They can wear that Mountain Gun as a hat, with daisies stuffed in the barrel, for all I care.

That strong headwind kinda negates the ******* contest that seems to have developed.