Although I am dyed-in-the-wool 2A proponent, in the back of my mind (and I REALLY hate to say this), there are some people who definitely shouldn't have guns.
(consider this a small flame..
)
You shouldn't "hate to say it". You, and the rest of us should say it, and say it often, because it is a simple obvious and unavoidable FACT!!!!
The Founders new that, as well.
The idea that a 2nd Amendment proponent is in favor of EVERYONE having a gun is a modern semantic trap, fostered and constantly repeated by the anti gun zealots and those who mindlessly repeat their propaganda.
The 2nd Amendment is about the Government NOT getting to decide, in advance, who should have the right to keep and bear arms. NOT about individual choices, or competency.
Absolutely there are people who should not have guns. Unstable, and irresponsible people, should not have guns. Nor should they drive a car, or have unsupervised access to knives, axes, matches, toxic chemicals, or a host of other things that through carelessness or deliberate misuse can cause harm.
You are in no way subverting the ideals of the 2nd Amendment to admit this.
..a manual safety that has been proven reliable. I have never, not once, had one fail on any gun I have ever owned, ranging from 70 year old garands to brand new guns.
I have. Although, to be precise, not on a gun I personally owned, but on a gun a personal friend owned. A Walther, in fact. When the safety was engaged, the gun FIRED!!!
(and without the trigger being pulled!
)
It can happen.
Like anything else mechanical, a manual safety works reliably, until it doesn't. It may never fail. It is unlikely that it will, but it COULD, the next time you pick up the gun. This is why the Hunter Safety courses teach you not to trust a safety when it comes to safe gun handling. Safe gun handling will keep you, and those around you safe, even if the rare event of a safety failure happens.