I can easily sweep off my thumb safety on my Shield . I suppose if I were in a make believe quick draw contest with a gun slinger and I needed that extra .5 seconds I might fumble and forget to sweep my safety off . Usually in a real scenario you get a sense of danger way before you handle a firearm . If someone rushes you with a drawn weapon you have already lost . I get a hoot out of people telling me the safety is only between the ears usually the same people who have ND with their glocks . My carry gun has a safety period .