The Israelis do very well carrying their handguns with empty chambers, and have developed some very effective procedures, including the *slingshot* draw, for very quickly bringing the weapon into use in that condition. The worst situation is when the method of carry is not consistant, as when one method is used on-duty and another off, or one while carried in a uniform belt holster and the other while the weapon is concealed. But the two recent cases in which suicide bombers were stopped by handgun-armed Israeli citizens were both accomplished with handguns carried with chambers empty of a live round.
But the Israelis found it very weary to have suffered more injuries to their own troops from their own handgun discharges than from accidents with all other weapons combined, excepting hand grenades. Accordingly, their policy became the two-edged one of issuing fewer handguns and SMGs- the old Uzi is rarely seen anymore, other than in civilian hands- and in keeping their chambers cleared when they are present. During my last three trips there, I lived by their rules and found it no great inconvenience.
That's not to say I favour the practice. I carried a 9mm Browning GP *Hi-power* virtually every day from mid-1968 to late 1976 [when I switched to a .45 Combat Commander] and since the smallish thumb safety of the unmodified GP precludes quick use, simply carried the thing with the chamber loaded and hammer back in the fire position. It was carried in any of several quality holsters which fully covered the trigger guard and which did not preclude a solid initial grasp of the piece if in a hurry. In those eight years I never had an accidental or unintended discharge of any sort, though on two occasions the prompt availability of my Browning almost certainly precluded my death or serious injury, including one instance in which I was shot at 4 times and hit twice. But he had 25 more rounds available, and had several hits from the Browning not discouraged his further interest, I doubt I'd be telling you this.
With the right holster, training and practice, most any condition of carry can be acceptably quick most of the time, but military units can and do accept a higher percentage of resulting casualties than an individual can.
-archy-/-
That's not to say I favour the practice. I carried a 9mm Browning GP *Hi-power* virtually every day from mid-1968 to late 1976 . . . . and . . . simply carried the thing with the chamber loaded and hammer back in the fire position.
With the right holster, training and practice, most any condition of carry can be acceptably quick most of the time . . .
What you say is, of course, correct based on the assumption of thoroughly learning a technique and ongoing practice to maintain skills. Based on my own experience in several confrontations I would be uncomfortable carrying a weapon without a round chambered.
I'm no longer quick or strong enough to depend on getting a round chambered under the extremes of survival pressure. However, I do abide by Cooper Rules - "Every gun is always loaded" for openers. If I check the gun every time I pick it up AND am practiced in the use of the gun, I won't have a problem with a negligent discharge even carrying the gun with a chambered round. The same would be true of police officers, but it does take some work and ongoing practice.