There are many who will disagree with me on this point.

It’s recommend that all defensive firearms used for in-home defense be loaded, stored with a round chambered and ready for use at a moment’s notice - with one exception. 

I recommend that pump action shotguns be loaded but stored with an empty chamber. The sound of a pump action shotgun being racked to chamber a round is unmistakable and many times will deter an attack. This is well documented.  You still need to be ready and willing to use it if necessary if: 

In any case, you only deploy a firearm in necessary self-defense situations, you are the “reasonable person” and if you are willing and able to use it. If not, the possibility of having your firearm taken from you by an attacker and used against you is very real.