Do safety features on guns actualy make them safer?

[John23]

I have a Glock26 and I met some person who claimed that it was way less safe than other guns that have a safety features. The issue isn't with the superficial logic, it's with whether or not there is real data to support this.

Is there any real data that shows a Glock user has more accidental shootings than other firearms with safety features?

Personally, I just think society trains everyone to think negative thought when they hear the words "No safety features." In the end, you are the safety.

 

[Bigskyguy]

I have a Glock26 and I met some person who claimed that it was way less safe than other guns that have a safety features. The issue isn't with the superficial logic, it's with whether or not there is real data to support this.

Is there any real data that shows a Glock user has more accidental shootings than other firearms with safety features?

Personally, I just think society trains everyone to think negative thought when they hear the words "No safety features." In the end, you are the safety.

Being a Glock owner, you should know they actually have 3 safeties. A trigger safety, a firing pin block safety, and a drop safety. They are all connected to the trigger/trigger bar. They disengage as you press the trigger to the rear. The #1 safety, though, is between your ears! Keep your finger off the trigger and it won't go bang.....as far as the specific statistics you are seeking, I'm not sure.

 

[kelcarry]

Absolutely agree with comments. In this country today, one that I do not trust nor like, any decisions made by the government for literally any reason, particularly when they interfere with personal responsibility, are made for control and that certainly is the case for firearms. Every decision is another little chip off of 2A. As far as statistics are concerned, the real question is accidents caused by Glocks PER NUMBER OF GLOCKS. There are a lot of Glocks out there and it would not surprise me to find that among pistols, the numbers for Glocks are high; when you show the statistics corrected for the number of Glocks, I am sure the number falls in line with most other pistols. Bottom line for me as said in above replies. The real "safety" is between your ears. Any government entity interference, particularly when it is close to 2A has a controlling purpose and not a safety purpose, no matter what they say.

 

[joatesiii]

Hi John...I don't know if that kind of info exists...perhaps somewhere, and, none the less, my perspective is that safety with a firearm is completely a training issue...I acknowledge that I am a Glock freak because, while I may be incorrect, I am certainly convinced that a Glock will never fire if the trigger is not manipulated, and, it will always fire if the trigger is manipulated. When I blend that mechanical certainty with my human fanaticism of keeping my finger away from the trigger until I want to fire, I have the confidence that my Glock is a completely safe tool until I wish it to no longer be safe...I am not able to say that with some other brands, regardless of safety features that they may or may not have. I also consider my safety when I want a firearm to fire without the need to manipulate additional buttons/levers in a crisis...

 

[Deserteagle]

I have a Glock26 and I met some person who claimed that it was way less safe than other guns that have a safety features. The issue isn't with the superficial logic, it's with whether or not there is real data to support this.

Is there any real data that shows a Glock user has more accidental shootings than other firearms with safety features?

Personally, I just think society trains everyone to think negative thought when they hear the words "No safety features." In the end, you are the safety.

Tell this person they are an idiot. But make sure to keep your distance from them because from the sound of his logic, I wouldnt want to be anywhere around him if he has a gun.

The people who rely on the safety switch on a gun are the people who dont have the most important safety, a brain.

 

[Riverkilt]

Currently reading Paul M Barratt's brand new book, Glock The Rise of America's Gun. Chapter 12 is titled "Ka-Boom" about ADs with Glocks. Much in the book about this debate over trigger safety's vs. safety switch thingies. Book is a good read in addition to having some answers for you.

 

[CapGun]

A few yrs ago I was at an indoor range with my Glock 17 holstered in a holster that did not go completely past the muzzle of the gun. This is a great holster and holds the gun securely in place nice and tight to my bod. Makes it easy to conceal the G17 with just a light shirt over jt.
He pointed out to me that if my movements caused the gun to ride up out of the holster a bit and I just pushed it back down into the holster and my overshirt or an undershirt got wedged into the trigger guard then...bang!

First off this is an excellent holster and unlikely to happen. It is an OWB Crossbreed.
So how to make this a safer situation? One way is to make sure the holster goes just past the muzzle. The other is if there was an external safety even a grip safety like on an XD. Yes I know even a grip safety may not stop this type of discharge if you push on it when you push the gun back into the holster.
So I hope no one points out that there are other ways to make things safer including leaving the gun unloaded. I am just commenting on something pointed out to me on a DA gun without an external safety and a similar type holster.
It was a situation that had not occurred to me. I love the holster and the gun but am more aware of the possibility even though the gun does stay in place.

 

[sgtbill]

The only safety for any weapon is the brain and I still love my Glock Model # 22 with it's 3 safety's plus the brain makes 4 total.
Bill

 

[Warbirds]

The rule is "keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot" right? Glocks owners break this rule every time they take the slide off. Ever seen the pics of the guy that has cleaned his gun thousands of time and always made sure it was empty, until he put the 45 through his palm?

I would take an XDM, which is pretty much a glock but can be taken down without pulling the trigger.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[no sheep]

BY using my brain I have not shot myself for the last 8 years with my glock 23, some may say that is luck but I will take any bet that I can go another 8 years without issue.

 

[mappow]

Errrr, why do you think they call them safety's? I wouldn't carry my 1911 cocked and locked without my thumb safety on. Yes, there's also a grip safety but still wouldn't CC or OC without it cocked and locked. Ain't no Glock fan but that's just me.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Errrr, why do you think they call them safety's? I wouldn't carry my 1911 cocked and locked without my thumb safety on. Yes, there's also a grip safety but still wouldn't CC or OC without it cocked and locked. Ain't no Glock fan but that's just me.

Maybe someone with better history knowledge can confirm this...but didn't the original design not have a thumb safety on a 1911? But was required after the military said so...

 

[CapGun]

The rule is "keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot" right? Glocks owners break this rule every time they take the slide off. Ever seen the pics of the guy that has cleaned his gun thousands of time and always made sure it was empty, until he put the 45 through his palm?

I would take an XDM, which is pretty much a glock but can be taken down without pulling the trigger.
Just want to point out that in my scenario it had nothing to do with putting your finger in the trigger.
Also, what do you do when you are at the gun shop checking out a new gun? Evan an XDM (btw I have one of those)
Did you handle it? Did you check the trigger by pulling it? How come you never shot yourself or anyone else while doing so?

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Just want to point out that in my scenario it had nothing to do with putting your finger in the trigger.
Also, what do you do when you are at the gun shop checking out a new gun? Evan an XDM (btw I have one of those)
Did you handle it? Did you check the trigger by pulling it? How come you never shot yourself or anyone else while doing

 

[arnetste]

A gun safety feature beyond what the 3 that a Glock already has in place can be a good and bad thing depending on your training. One of the great things about a Glock is that they are easy to use with little experience. Guns with additional safety feature may require more training. Example To prevent a Glock from firing all you have to do is keep your finger off the trigger. If you had a 1911 and you engaged the safety then you would have to manipulate the safety before you can fire it. So if you have a 1911 you either train for using the safety or some people don't even use it at all. A safety can also be a false sense of security because if you think it's engaged and pull the trigger you might get a bang. Problem with a Gun like a 1911 is if you have an emergency situation and you don't train with it like many people who buy a gun for protection and never shoot it. They maybe haven't picked up the gun for years before they actually needed it to save their life and they fumble with it when it doesn't go bang because they forgot to take the safety off. If that person had a glock the gun would have gone bang when they pulled the trigger. So in a way it's more safe to have a gun like a glock which fires when the trigger is pulled. Obviously the best situation would be that you make sure if you have a gun present in the home for protection that you make sure everyone in the home is trained on how to use it properly and safely. You need to make sure the gun is clear when you are breaking it down and pointing in a safe direction at all times to prevent accidental discharge injury. Most injuries occur when a person is being careless and not paying attention while handling a gun no matter your gun handling experience. We have all seen the video on you tube of the Officer shooting himself in a classroom full of kids. Guns don't kill people by themselves. A glock is very unlikely to shoot someone unless someone pulls the trigger. As mentioned on previous responses any data on accidental discharges would be inaccurate at best if they do exist. My first gun was a Glock 19. It was a little small for my hands and I didn't like the grip angle on it so I sold it and got the Springfield XD45. The XD had more safety features on it but nothing that gets in the way in an emergency. If I were to conceal Carry I would probably get another Glock because they are thinner and more streamlined. Plus Glock has made some changes to their guns since I got my Glock19 back in the late 90's because the newer ones feel better in my hand.

 

[bellyfat]

i know were talking apples and oranges here but. my revolver doesnt have a safety device other than my brain. i have no fear of it but alot of respect for it.

 

[Jahshoewah3619]

I think the problem is that Glocks are the go to gun for people that dont know about guns. Dont take this as me talking bad about Glock or people who own them. They are great and deserve the reputation they have. I think uninformed people flock to them because of their popularity especially with police.

 

[mappow]

Maybe someone with better history knowledge can confirm this...but didn't the original design not have a thumb safety on a 1911? But was required after the military said so...

Grip safety was added to the original 1911 to make it a 1911A1. A1 being modified once.

 

[mappow]

If you had a 1911 and you engaged the safety then you would have to manipulate the safety before you can fire it. So if you have a 1911 you either train for using the safety or some people don't even use it at all. A safety can also be a false sense of security because if you think it's engaged and pull the trigger you might get a bang. Problem with a Gun like a 1911 is if you have an emergency situation and you don't train with it like many people who buy a gun for protection and never shoot it. They maybe haven't picked up the gun for years before they actually needed it to save their life and they fumble with it when it doesn't go bang because they forgot to take the safety off. .

If you buy/have a gun and you don't train with it I would suggest you're probably in line for a Darwin award.

 

[Jay]

I have several guns that I don't train with. That being said, I carry, (and have for many, many years) one of four different guns, but they're all the identical platform, with thumb safety's, and I do train with those, at least two days a week.

As posted, proficiency with any carry gun, should be the goal of anyone who carries.

 

[tricolordad]

Tell this person they are an idiot. But make sure to keep your distance from the because from the sound of his logic, I wouldnt want to be anywhere around him if he has a gun.

The people who rely on the safety switch on a gun are the people who dont have the most important safety, a brain.

I've got a few with safeties that actually prevent the hammer from striking the firing pin.

Glocks are probably more frequently involved in accidents because almost everybody has one. I got rid of my g26. Went bang when it dropped out of my holster because it was defective. Learned a lesson, lose the rig when chopping firewood.