Don't forget NY and having your bullets counted to make sure you only have 7.
There is no distinction in any of the handgun laws in NC between loaded or unloaded, it's just not mentioned in any of the statutes.
Adrenaline dumps are beyond anyone's control, and they occur as part of our body's natural reaction to danger, either fight or flight. Never experienced one as related to guns, but as a firefighter for 31 years, I have experienced them a number of times. All bets are off, and training and muscle memory kick in. Fine motor skills are also out the window, such as the ability to rack a slide far enough to chamber a round, take a safety off.
And if your don't expend that adrenaline through action as the situation immediately changes for the better, you will have a headache from hell.