I figure that as long as one of the first four safety rules is, "all guns are always loaded all the time,"
That's what some say today, but its not the actual rule as originally stated. Its the modern "hyper-compressed" version and it actually changes the intent of the rule, by leaving out important words.
First off, it cannot be taken at face value. All guns are NOT always loaded all the time. As a flat declarative statement, it is not true.
TREAT every gun AS IF it were loaded, until you, personally, have checked it. If the gun leaves your sight (some will say "your control") even briefly, treat it as if it were loaded until you have checked it, again.
this is the full idea, it is a safety rule, one of the instructions for what you should do to be safe handling firearms.
One of the important parts of the rule (and one that is lost in the "short version") is that you, personally, are responsible for checking the gun to ensure its condition, loaded or unloaded. YOU, no one else. You do not take anyone's word for it. Even people you trust about other things, can make mistakes. You need to see the chamber is empty, or not. If you can't see it, you need to feel it.
People defend the short version (though I don't know why) by saying "everyone knows what you mean"...
But, everyone doesn't. On top of that, some won't follow the rules even when they are fully stated. A certain actor/producer comes to mind as a recent example.....
And, its poor grammar, leaving out words changes the rule from an instruction (something you should do) to a flat declaration of the condition of the gun (always loaded all the time) which is patently not true....
Store your guns as you see fit, they are your property. Personally, I see no point to storing guns loaded. Now, I have some guns I keep loaded, for personal/home defense, but those guns are not in "storage" as I see it, they are in use. Even if I don't touch one for some time, I consider it in use (since it is loaded, and ready to go).