My reason for buying a shield with a safety is to prevent an accident in the unlikely event that one of the children who visit my home may find it and attempt to "play" with it. If they are unfamiliar with the manual of arms, the safety can provide the extra layer of protection. The same could be applied to a bad guy if he should get his hands on the gun in a tense situation. IMHO, there is no such thing as being too safe .