This article from Front Sight, Press hits home with me, especially since I've argued this point ad nauseam with other gunnies
He confessed that he carries his concealed pistol (S&W M&P) with an empty chamber! He went on to say that he never chambers a round in his holstered handgun, because he has children, and it’s ‘just not safe to carry a loaded pistol near them.’ ‘Besides,’ he continued, ‘all I have to do is rack the slide. Then, I can shoot. Right?’
I asked him bluntly, ‘Who promised you that both your hands will be available when you need your pistol?’ He stammered and squirmed. ‘You may be pushing those children of yours behind cover while trying to draw your pistol at the same time. You might find a home-invader on top of you doing his best to stick a screwdriver into your eye. As you fend off the screwdriver with one hand and draw your pistol with the other, how will you persuade it to fire then? '
Many gunnies deride Glocks for their lack of an external (or as I say "yet another") safety. I don't have any statistics, so I'm pulling this out of my ass, but I'm betting the ratio of Glock ND/AD's to other handgun manufacturers is probably the same ration as Glocks to others. I think the "pull the trigger to disengage the safety" is all I need being that my pistol is holstered at all times. However, for the sake of this argument, let's assume my Glock's safety mechanism is on par with everything else - i.e. it works. We can get into a pissing match on its effectiveness later.
Now my pistol is always cocked and loaded which is Condition 0 / 1, depending on your definition of Glock safeties. It is always in its holster when not in actual use. Now, when I'm at home or out and wearing it, I am quite likely be around my children. Many times, it is required that I pick up one or both of my girls. I have such confidence in the level of safety of my Glock 29 that I have no issues with their legs kicking or little heinies resting on my firearm (the added bonus of the Glock is no external hammer for little tushies to knock loose).
None. No concern whatsoever.
I also don't have any concerns if said legs or heinies rest on my Leatherman, which contains quite a few sharp, pointy things. Both for the same reason. It is infeasible for legs or buttocks to contort to such a manner as to lift my firearm / Leatherman out of its holster and manipulate it such a manner that it becomes dangerous. Not impossible mind you, but rather at a probability so low as to make it near enough for government work.
Yes, there is a greater risk of discharge from a firearm with one in the pipe. Absolutely no logical doubt about that. There is as great of a risk or even possibly greater that not having your weapon ready will delay you when seconds count.
I personally have weighed that risk and until someone shows me otherwise (via well documented case studies of ND/AD's where the firearm was kept in Condition 0/1), I think my family and I are more safe with my firearm at the ready.
Of course, I'm open for discussion. Unlike the Brady Bunch or PSH Poster children like Robyn Ringler I'm willing to listen to differing opinions and am open minded enough to not outright reject them.
rolled out on
Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:31 AM