Is -static a link-only switch?

[Gary Funck]

Ian Lance Taylor wrote (in part): 
> In fact many targets compile code differently depending upon whether
> the code is to be put into a shared library or not, but this is
> controlled via options like -fpic, not -static.

Is it generally safe on all currently supported targets to assert -fno-pic
when compiling programs that will ultimately be linked with -static asserted?
Will targets that don't support -fpic (and -fon-pic) complain, or just quietly
accept the switch?