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I've also heard of at least one case where a cop, while holding a suspect at gunpoint with a cocked semi-auto handgun, tried to "safe" his gun by pressing the decocker. The gun went off while pointing at the perp's head. Oops.

Somebody told me about how they once owned a Beretta semi-auto pistol with the 'safety de-cock'. He said he promptly sold the gun after it went off when he operated the 'safety de-cock'.

When I saw the Beretta pistols at a gun store, and saw how the de-cock worked, I thought it was madness! I don't care whose pistol I have. The only time I'll de-cock a semi-auto is AFTER I have removed the clip and the chambered round.

Still, I do own a Beratte .22 semi-auto pistol. (no safety de-cock) I got it for two reasons. One, it's cheap to shoot all day long. Two, it's something I can have for concealed carry until such time as I have enough money to buy the Kimber Compact CDP I want.

When I saw the Beretta pistols at a gun store, and saw how the de-cock worked, I thought it was madness! I don't care whose pistol I have. The only time I'll de-cock a semi-auto is AFTER I have removed the clip and the chambered round.

In the Ruger P-9* series, with the non-DAO pistols you have no choice but to use the decocker with a round in the chamber. The act of chambering a round cocks the hammer. You then have to decock it. I'm in the habit of holding the hammer with my thumb, then GENTLY letting it down upon operating the decock lever, all the while pointing it at a safe backstop. Russian makarov pistols are the same way.