There is also a significant safety issue that bears further investigation. Apparently when the M4 selector is in the "Safe" position and the bolt is allowed to ride forward, the firing pin still makes contact with the bullet primer. A CSM in the 101st related a story of a soldier who had an accidental discharge while his weapon was in the safe position - the CSM personally witnessed this incident. Numerous soldiers showed us bullets in their magazines that had small dents in the primer. There may be a "Safety of Use" message out on this issue but it is not well known at the battalion-and-below level.

Quoted:
I stopped paying attention to anything Hackworth is associated with about a year and a half ago.  While I respect his record as a combat soldier, his military commentaries slid down hill from respectable to silly over the past couple of years.  If these people are making a to do over what has always been a characteristic of the AR/M16 series, the only thing it tells me is that Hackworth's silliness has spread to those who are associated w/him.