Because you know of ADs with guns with safeties doesn't mean safeties don't make an AD less likely. People die in car crashes who wear seatbelts, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't wear them. That is a comparable analogy to what the Glock crowd are saying about guns, if everyone would drive like they should there would be no accidents. But there are, especially under stress.If you're not smart enough to safely holster a gun without a safety, what are you doing carrying a gun?
I've known several LEOs who suffered NDs while holstering 1911s and 92fs Berettas. I also know of incidents where trained and experienced LEOs failed to fire when they intended because, under stress, they either failed to disengage the safety or dropped a full mag. Others have had issues realizing they had shot the mag empty.
I carried 1911s for three decades, and yet have not had any difficulties transitioning to Glocks. My carry rotation includes a G30, a G26, and a G36. I practice with them, often. All are stock internally.
The M&Ps, XDs, XDMs, and Sigs are all available with manual safeties. I own some of them. It just happens that the Glocks work better for me. I completely understand the reluctance of others to carry a gun without a manual safety, and readily admit that it took me a fair amount of range time and practice before I was comfortable carrying a Glock.
It helps, no doubt, that I was raised around cops and handguns. I was taught long ago never to trust safeties, bumper jacks, and auto finance managers (among others). To me, a gun is only safe when I have personally verified it's condition and secured it safely. That can be anywhere from locked open and empty to ready to fire in my hand.
Safeties don't make a gun safe. If they did, Glock would be the only gun having ADs, and police departments would quickly abandon them. Such is not the case.
I understand WinThePennant's post completely, because that's how my mind works, too. You'll never hear me blame an AD on my safety, even when I'm using a gun with a manual safety - but I've heard such from both people at the range and LEOs in the field. If the OP cannot get his mind around using a gun without a manual safety, then he shouldn't use one. I know people who won't even carry with the chamber loaded, for that matter.
You have to be comfortable with your carry gun - no matter what that takes. If you mind is always thinking about the accidents you might have - you WILL have one. Whatever you carry, shoot it enough in as many conditions as you can until it becomes natural. Shoot it until you don't have to think about it --- then think about it anyway!
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