In regard to the NRA's seemingly paradoxical rule for safe gun handling in the context of firearms left loaded for defensive use - while I cannot speak as an official representative of the NRA, I CAN speak to the training we receive as instructors developed by the NRA Training Division.
The 3rd rule, while it is easy to inconsiderately disparage with a complete non-sequitur as you have, does NOT preclude long-term loaded firearms for defensive purpose. For defensive purpose, the firearm is at a "ready for use" state, as such, it should be loaded. Your carry pistol needs to be "ready for use" as soon as it is mounted in the morning and remain ready for use, as such, it should be loaded. Your argument is the most common
I have heard against the NRA 3 Rules over the years, and it's no more of a valid argument today than it was almost 20yrs ago the first time I heard it.
The 3rd rule does, however, preclude the laziness of the common, "I have a shotgun by the bed, loaded 24/7." As in this situation, when the owner leaves the home, if anyone else were to enter, say your teenage kid with a few friends, they wouldn't find a loaded, unsecured, and unsupervised firearm. If the teenager is representative and approved (and hopefully trained) to use the shotgun in defense, then the "ready condition" transitions to the teen as a responsible party controlling that weapon while you're gone (and by control, at minimum requiring it is not interfered with and remains at ready state without potential for violation of the other two rules). If you keep a nightstand gun which stays in the room, meaning it does not need be "ready for use," then it should either get secured during the day.
There's discussion to be had about concealed carry pieces removed and left in vehicles. One could argue the user may need it to be "ready for use" immediately upon return, as in the event of a surprise attack when re-entering the vehicle, or an active shooter event where a person might retreat from a threat to retrieve the firearm to engage to prevent further loss of life. In the interim, as the owner is not present, the firearm isn't necessarily in control and therefor the firearm isn't necessarily ready for use - grey area here. But again, the 3rd rule doesn't preclude having a loaded firearm waiting in your vehicle.
Same argument is often made for hunting, guys will rebuff, "what, am I supposed to walk with an empty shotgun then ask the birds to wait while I load up?" No, when hunting, the firearm needs to be "ready for use" at almost any time of the walk, and therefore should be loaded.
As a formerly certified risk assessor, there are multiple control paradigms which can mitigate firearms risks. Cooper's 4 Rules and the NRA's 3 Rules both satisfy as safe as general guidelines - but neither are sufficiently comprehensive to represent anything more than a backbone. 3 or 4 Rules do not a safety program make...
