PHP has been known to provide convenient footguns in the past (e.g. register_globals, mercifully depreciated), so it's not surprising that security-minded people give it a hard time.

Think of it as the difference between the language keeping loaded footguns under its pillow with the safety off and keeping unloaded footguns in a locked gun safe. One is a lot less likely to get used than the other, even if either one will shoot your foot just as well.