Originally Posted by
BehindBlueI's
If you're carrying a carbine, you already know trouble is afoot. You are unlikely to be already entangled before the weapon is in your hand. You've likely got two hands on the weapon. If the need to fire seems imminent, you likely have your finger in contact with the safety already. It's a completely different use case in many instances. Same as I'm comfortable carrying a rifle in a rack with an empty chamber but am not comfortable carrying a pistol in a holster with the same empty chamber.
The number of people who think they are trained to a high level is significantly higher than the number that actually are. A high level on a static range, or even the local IDPA shoot, vs a high level while injured, stressed, OODA looping, entangled, and knocked on your ass are different things.
I've personally had my dominant hand broken twice in fights, once with my thumb laid back against my forearm. I'm aware there are alternate ways to deactivate a manual safety. They seem less appealing while still entangled with a bigger opponent and injured.
I know of a non-zero number of people who were disarmed and weren't shot seemingly as a result of either a manual safety or an empty chamber. I know of significantly more people who seemingly lost their gunfight due to the same. I think this is similar to the argument to not wear your seatbelt because you may get thrown free of the car before it sets fire. It *does* happen. Just not nearly as often as the seatbelt saves the occupants life by not letting them get thrown free, etc.