What is the Safe Action® system?

Glock’s Safe Action® is a passive, fully automatic three-part mechanical safety system built into the gun’s fire control—designed to provide a consistent trigger pull and to keep the pistol safe when you’re not deliberately firing. All three safeties operate independently and re-engage automatically when the trigger is released. This design means there’s no separate manual safety lever the shooter must flip on or off to fire.

The three safeties — plain and simple

The Safe Action® system uses three sequential safeties: the trigger safety, the firing pin safety, and the drop (trigger bar) safety. The trigger safety is a lever built into the face of the trigger that prevents rearward movement unless the lever itself is deliberately depressed. The firing pin safety physically blocks the firing pin from moving forward until the trigger pull lifts that block. Finally, the trigger bar (drop safety) keeps the firing pin from moving forward unless the trigger bar is lowered during a proper trigger pull. All three disengage only as the trigger is intentionally pulled and all three re-engage when the trigger returns forward.

So do Glocks “have a safety” or not?

The short answer: yes — but not in the form many people expect. A frequent myth is that “Glocks have no safety.” That misunderstanding usually comes from confusing external, manual safeties (thumb levers) with internal passive safeties. Glock intentionally uses a passive system to reduce the number of manual steps required to fire under stress while still providing multiple internal mechanical layers that prevent accidental discharge from drops or unintentional pressure on the trigger. Stating “no safety” is therefore inaccurate and overlooks the internal engineered safeties built into the lockwork.

Why Glock chose passive safeties — the rationale

Glock’s philosophy emphasizes simplicity and speed under stress. With a passive system the shooter does not have to remember to disengage an external safety in a high-pressure moment, which proponents argue reduces the chance of user error. The manufacturer also points to reliability across temperature ranges and rugged conditions as part of the design’s intent. Critics, however, prefer manual safeties because they provide an additional, visible layer of control that some users find reassuring. Both perspectives are valid and hinge on training, mission profile, and personal preference.

Comparing Safe Action® to a manual safety — pros and cons

Speed and simplicity: Passive safeties require no extra action to fire; manual safeties add a step that can slow response if not practiced.

Human factors: Users who train extensively with manual safeties can operate them quickly and safely; for others, the extra step can cause hesitation or forgetting to fire when needed.

Visual and tactile confirmation: Manual safeties provide an external indicator (lever position), which some shooters like for an extra layer of positive control; Glock’s system is internal and silent, offering no external “on/off” cue.

Drop and mechanical safety: Both approaches can be made safe by design; Glock’s multiple internal safeties specifically address drop and unintentional trigger movements.

Common concerns and practical advice

People worry that an internal system could fail or that a passive system encourages complacency. Realistically, no mechanical system is immune to failure, which is why safe handling (treat every gun as loaded, finger off trigger until ready, point in a safe direction) remains the primary safety. If you prefer the tactile and visible assurance of a manual safety, choose a platform that offers one and train with it consistently. If you carry or work in roles where speed and simplicity matter, the passive Safe Action® is engineered for exactly that. The best choice is the one you’ve practiced until it becomes second nature. 

Safety is more than a lever

Whether a pistol has a manual thumb safety, a passive internal system like Glock’s, or both, the strongest safety is user behavior and training. Understand how your chosen pistol’s safeties work, practice consistent and safe handling, and pick equipment that matches your training priorities. Glock’s Safe Action® system is a deliberately engineered approach that trades a separate manual lever for three internal fail-safes and a consistent trigger feel—an option that has served many users well but is not the only valid approach to firearm safety.