Introduction to Safety Mechanisms

All types of handguns have sights and actions, and they may have safeties or magazines.

A safety is a device that blocks the action to prevent the handgun from shooting until the safety is released or pushed to the “off” position. The safety is intended to prevent the gun from being fired accidentally. However, safeties should never be relied on totally to protect against accidental shooting. Safeties are mechanical devices and subject to mechanical failure from wear and other factors, and can fail when least expected. Also, safeties can be bumped from the safe position unknowingly as your handgun is being handled or as it catches on clothing or tree branches.

How Safeties Can Fail

A safety is only a backup to safe gunhandling habits.