So a motorcycle gang with a dozen thugs catches up to you on a long stretch of lonely road and all you've got is a rate/capacity limited weapon to defend yourself...
Safety is not a problem. Where I come from every father drilled that into his son before he sent him out squirrel hunting at age 12.
Good guy gun owners are like sheep dogs. If you are a sheep, it's good to know they are there when the wolves start circling. :)