EDIT: Because the 2A brigade has shown up and god forbid anyone advocates for more safety features, let me clarify that the Glock uses a single action trigger which I erroneously called a hair trigger out of a desire to simplify. Goocks also have some safety mechanisms to prevent it from accidental discharge when drop or when casually handling it. They do not, in my opinion, go far enough. Anyone reading this does not have to take my or anyone else in this thread at their word. Do your research. I did not do my due diligence on Glocks and ended up with two pistols I dislike with a passion. Lesson learned. Also, I am not saying that mechanical safeties should replace proper gun safety and trigger discipline.
I own a number of pistols including Glock and Para-Ordnance. Para-Ordnance is now defunct but I believe their pistols included safety features that should be a requirement for all pistols sold to the general public.
First, let's talk about Glock. A Glock 17 is a 9mm pistol. It is extremely light and relatively cheap. It also has zero safety features. This pistol has a hair trigger and no safety. The moment you chamber a round, this weapon is hot and itching for an excuse to fire. I bought a pair and I hate them with a passion. They remain unloaded at all times except when I am at the range and literally getting ready to shoot. I might have them destroyed; I hate them that much.
My Para-ordnance pistols (Tac-Four LDA is my favorite) on the other hand have a number of safety features that help prevent an accidental discharge.
- LDA (light double action): This is a type of trigger system. When the trigger is not cocked, you can pull the trigger and it will do nothing. It also means that no round is likely in the chamber. When you chamber a round, the trigger will cock but it still is not ready to fire. This is the difference between "double action", "light double action", and a pistol like the Glock. Double action is what you find in revolvers where, if not cocked, the trigger pulls back the hammer before it releases. This can be a very long and heavy pull which is why you see users cock their gun in westerns. The problem with that is that a cocked revolver back to being on a hair trigger before firing, just like a Glock. The LDA system "half cocks" the hammer so that the heavy pull is done with, but you still have travel time where the hammer is pulled back further before release. It is very unlikely that a user will twitch pull the trigger by mistake.
- Thumb safety: This is a fairly common feature on pistols (absent in the Glock) where you can flick the safety on and off with your thumb. An engage safety will not allow the pistol to fire.
- Grip safety: A less common feature (absent in the Glock) where a safety is engaged by default until your hand fully around the grip.
The Para-Ordnance pistols featured all three safety mechanisms I listed above. The Glock have zero safety mechanisms. None. Zilch. Nada. Para-Ordnance went out of business and Glock are one of the most, if not the most, popular pistols sold in the US. Nobody wants to pay for the extra safety features. I think they should be mandatory.
