but I would think the safety preventing the slide from moving would be pretty safe
Actually, this causes an even bigger problem. I just read a lot over at taurusarmed.net. And there were a couple of disturbing things.
1. If the trigger is slightly depressed when the manual safety is put on, the manual safety will show safe, but the gun will fire. DO NOT TRY THIS AT THE RANGE WITH LIVE AMMO! Try it unloaded.
2. If the safety is put on with the trigger slightly depressed, and the gun is subsequently fired with the safety on, extreme damage will result due to the fact that the safety locks the slide forward.
3. There is a space, and I haven't gotten the Mil Pro to look at it yet, in the frame where dirt can get into that will cause the trigger not to return to the full forward position. If this happens, even though you are not depressing the trigger, it will not be in it's full forward position and the safety will not engage properly.
So, on this gun, it is very important after each use, after each cleaning, and prior to loading for carry that the safety be checked for proper functioning.