Slappy said:
Guns nowadays are have so many internal and sometimes external safeties that accidental discharges are a thing of the past. Guns WILL NOT go off unless the trigger is pulled.
Actually, this is not quite true. I've been involved in a handful of "investigations" when modern guns have in fact discharged without the trigger being pulled. Most often, it involves a mechanical failure of some part or parts in the gun due either to debris or wear. It's far from common, obviously, but it certainly does happen.
And the LCP does
not have a firing pin block, which is a major component in keeping most handguns drop/shock safe. Of course, measured against that is the extremely light weight of the LCP and its striker, which may not be able to build up enough momentum to break a primer even if dropped from a reasonable height.
Furthermore, whether you want to call it an AD or an ND or stupid, stupid happens. The number of people who discharge a pistol putting it back in the holster is pretty high. As enthusiasts, we're less likely to make that mistake. But the LCP is going to attract a lot of buyers who are not firearms enthusiasts.
Having said that, I personally carry mine with the chamber loaded, just like I carry my primary (M&P9). As
icl said, the LCP is what comes out when everything else has already gone wrong. You have to assume one of your hands/arms might be out of the fight. With the almost non-existent sights on the LCP, racking a round into the chamber one handed is going to be a chore ... a chore you probably don't have time for.
It's also worth noting that the LCP has the kind of trigger which is most forgiving of a human-induced accident. It's long and there is constant pressure from the very beginning. You get immediate tactile feedback that the trigger is being pressed the moment you start to move it. Does it mean it's impossible to frak up and AD your LCP? No. But unless you're in the habit of "speed reholstering," your chances are improved simply by staying switched on and aware of what's happening.
Of course, I carry it in a holster that fully protects the trigger from inadvertent contact. YMMV, but I consider this a necessity.