Can't find the post from this forum entered a few wks ago in which someone stated with apparent certainty that the safety indeed CAN be removed and that S&W can provide the instructions and for a fee a dead plug for the hole the lever comes out of. Can't verify the accuracy of the claim, guess you could always call S&W and ask. The safety doesn't bother me. As mentioned by others, it's pretty unobtrusive and positive in its actuation either on or off. Anythings possible but would think it pretty unlikely one would find it accidentally in either the on or off position. Mine requires intentional effort to engage/disengage.