I second the recommendations on the CZ and the Kimbers ... I have the CZ 75B in 9mm and the Kimber UCII in .45 and both are fine machines ...
As for the thumb safety, practice, practice, practice ... it is your responsibility to know how to operate the firearm you carry. I generally carry my SA EMP 9mm for around town, and carry the Kimber for going into the metro, and both have an ambi thumb safety and it is no delay for me to pull, thumb, acquire target and shoot. It wasn't that way when I started, but I practiced, practiced, practiced until it was second nature under certified training. DA/SA, well, I carry magazines at capacity with one in the pipe as I don't want to have to rack before I shoot (feel for the folks in CA), so the issue is moot. Why would you not want to have the gun cocked, locked and ready to roll?
Ok, as a new carrier, I can see how you might be a little hesitant about one in the pipe. GET OVER IT or don't carry. I didn't get over it until after my first incident and that actually caused me legal problems. Here's the scenario, you and GF are walking to the car after the movie and you have to cross through a spot with very low light. You see a shadow at the end of the building and you realize that your gun does not have a round in the chamber. In anticipation of MAYBE needing to defend yourself, you quietly take your gun out of the holster and rack a round fully intending to replace the gun in the holster without waving it at anyone or anything. But, someone hears you rack the round and starts yelling, "He's got a gun" and there you go, having to explain to the cops why you racked a round that no one saw you do, but some yokel heard you do. Next thing you know, the DA is considering which of 4 felonies to charge you with. So, take my experience and GET OVER IT and carry one in the chamber!
As for hi-capacity or not, well, after tactical training, I can empty a mag and have the next one in the gun and empty that one and the next one all in the 8 and 10 ring under 60 seconds (in my case, well under
) and I did it in two different classes, once with the .45 (7 rd mags +1) and the SA 9mm (9 rd mags +1).
What has not been mentioned is that statistically, most shootings/gunfights take less than 30 seconds from start to finish. I am not sure about the stats with multiple assailants, but probably not much longer.
Most of all, choose a gun that feels good in your hand, train with it, then take the next step in your gun acquisition syndrome :lol: Professional training is a great way to get the practice and handling familiarity you need, and it is a great place to meet great folks! They all share your passion for guns.