Fenders are definitely safe. I am a Fender fanatic. Not certain about squires though.
I tried a semi-acoustic Epiphone Jack Casidy model and it neck dived on me.
My advice on a first bass is a MIJ Fender Jazz. Will last you through to advanced stage of bass playing. Versatile growly mid-tone and awesome neck profile. I can never do without the tone of a jazz bridge pickup. Precisions might be a challenge with the fat necks especially for beginners, unless you crave the classic Precision boom.