One gun that I typically carry with me on a daily basis — one of my go-to concealed carry guns — is a Springfield Armory XD-S 9mm. My husband and I had purchased the larger XD many years ago, and we used to practice with it at the shooting range a lot. So I was drawn to the XD-S as a concealed carry option, since I already felt pretty comfortable with the platform. But, ultimately, one of the main reasons I selected this handgun was because of the grip safety.
I am not a big fan of manual safeties. I personally believe that the most important safety for any firearm is your brain … and possibly, after that, your well-trained trigger finger. I realize that a manual safety can fail. As well, an external safety takes extra steps to manipulate. And while you can certainly train yourself to do that (and to do it well), I prefer not to complicate the process, especially if I need to use a firearm in self-defense.
Benefits of a Grip Safety
So why am I okay with the grip safety? First of all, a grip safety doesn’t require any extra movements or steps in order to use the firearm. If you grip the gun correctly (firmly and high on the back strap), the grip safety will depress, and you’ll be good to go. In most cases, it’s just a natural consequence of holding the firearm in a firing position. Second, I have three children, and while I do train them about gun safety (what to do and what not to do around firearms), I feel that the grip safety is just a little extra security and a little extra peace of mind.
For me, the grip safety is additional security because I know that the shooter has to hold the gun with intention if he or she wants to fire it. If it were just a regular thumb safety, a piece of metal that could switch on and off, it could be left on accidentally, and then little fingers could technically grab the trigger and inadvertently fire the gun. The grip safety (or any safety, for that matter) is not childproof, of course, but that small, added level of complexity could help, since they would have to have that perfect grip for the gun to function.
Those Against Grip Safeties on Firearms
On the other hand, many people have argued that with a grip safety, if you do not hold the gun just right, you will not be able to fire it. This is true, but it’s also rare. With practice and training, you should be able to fire the gun properly. Injury would most likely be the cause of an improper grip. Granted, I suppose that in some crazy world overrun by ninjas, my grip could also be compromised, as self-defense shots may have to be taken behind my back while spinning in air or rolling toward cover. In that case, there would certainly be more possibility that I would not be able to fire my gun. But this is a decision we XD-S owners have to come to grips with (pun intended). And while it might not be everyone’s favorite safety method, for me, it’s just that extra little peace of mind when I carry this gun.
About Beth Alcazar
Author of Women’s Handgun & Self-Defense Fundamentals and associate editor of Concealed Carry Magazine, Beth Alcazar has enjoyed nearly two decades of teaching and working in the firearms industry. She holds degrees in language arts, education and communication management and uses her experience and enthusiasm to share safe and responsible firearms ownership and usage with others. Beth is certified through the NRA as a Training Counselor, Chief Range Safety Officer and Certified Instructor for multiple disciplines. She is also a Certified Instructor through SIG Sauer Academy, ALICE Institute, DRAW School, TWAW and I.C.E. Training and is a USCCA Certified Instructor and Senior Training Counselor.
