CCW in purse - a bad idea

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monotonous_iterancy

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I'm not female, but it seems that a very common way for women to carry concealed is to put their gun in their purse.

This seems like a terrible idea. Purses are frequently stolen by thieves. So if some criminals swipes your purse, he not only has your wallet and any jewelry that might be in there, but also a gun. :eek:

Isn't it better for women to carry on their person? Is it more challenging for women to do so?

Part of me thinks that women commonly choose their purse as a carrying location because they're choosing convenience over good planning.

What do you all think?
 
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It is almost always better to carry on your person instead of a briefcase, purse, fanny pack, backpack...etc. Seriously, I can't think of a single scenario where carrying off body is better than on person.

It's better to have a P32 on your person than a 45 ACP in your briefcase or purse.
 
I don't have a problem with it as long as they maintain control of the purse and don't leave it laying around.
 
For my wife and her friends, it's either a gun in the purse or no gun at all. They enjoy wearing form-fitting clothing and that doesn't leave much room to conceal a weapon. They would rather not carry than have to switch to baggy t-shirts.

*Note: Form fitting does not mean immodest. I had better not catch any of you thinking poorly of my better half! ;)
 
My girlfriend carries a weapon in her purse. However she is very well aware that the first target for thieves, attackers of women etc is the purse. That is why she has a mouse gun on her person for backup. The important thing is she practices with both.

Depending on wardrobe it is harder for women to on body carry. However with small weapons from NAA, Keltec and similar companies make small handguns which are easy to conceal in lots of places. Its fine to have a .45 in your purse but if that gets taken away, a backup plan is good to have.
 
Cc in briefcase no, purse yes. You have to fiddle with a briefcase to open it and you carry it with your hand. A purse, has a shoulder strap and hangs about waist height. If a lady was in a not so friendly area, she can walk with her hand in the purse at ready.
 
I worry a lot about the fact, that my wife carries her xdsc in her purse.
I've quickly learned though its purse or nothing. Sig238 no go, kahr pm9/cm9 no go,
And even the ruger lcp was a no.
She just doesn't like iwb carry. Owb can't work she says because, anything will print.
So she basically insist on her xd riding in her purse.
 
It is not the best idea, but it is a better idea than leaving the gun at home. Having a gun in the hand is better than in a well designed holster, but that is not always practical either. If a woman wants to carry in the purse, I'm not going to admonish her: to each their own.
 
Those purses that sit about waist high and along across the body actually would make a great CCW option I reckon. The purse is at the right height for a quick enough draw and it's retained by your lady friends entire body .

Just my two cents
 
Wife uses a shoulder purse with a 38.

She is quick, on the draw even in vehichle or restaurant it is within easy reach.

Just a system she developed over the years. It works for her.
 
Every method of carry is a compromise in something.

Unless you have a wife who is always willing to dress like a cowgirl, sooner or later, they are going to have to wear an outfit which will not accommodate any other method of carry. If you tell them; "You have to wear clothes that accommodate carry, or don't carry", which one do you think they will choose?

A woman never looks odd with a purse, no matter what else she is wearing. It's something she can always keep with her, and never look odd. If she picks it up and takes it with her, no one asks why. If she does choose to carry it that way, she has to learn to treat it with absolute accountability at all times. But, all of us have to do that anyway. Part of proper retention technique is to learn to guard and hold whatever is carrying your gun very carefully.

Women have different challenges than men to in choosing a holster. Their build means there are some options that just don't work. Women of average height and build have a very difficult time with cross-draw, for example. How many women want to wear any trousers that allow for IWB carry. Just because WE don't care if our waistline is vague or lumpy doesn't mean THEY don't care.
 
Let me put it this way.

Would you wear a tuxedo to go swimming? Or cowboy boots to play football?

No, you dress for the activity in which you are engaged. If you're carrying a gun, dress appropriately.
 
Wheel guns can be fired repeatedly from inside a purse.
Autoloaders cannot.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's that black and white, especially if the revolver has a hammer. And while its written over and over, the only basis most have is that they read it once somewhere.

If you multiply the probability that an autoloader would malfunction when fired inside a purse by the probability that you would have the need to shoot from inside your purse and divide by the relative value of having the capability to shoot an attacker with your purse.....it's a decimal point followed by a lot of zeros.
 
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I think the best way for a woman to carry, is with a Smartcarry bellyband type holster. It will work great under jeans or a dress or skirt, especially if she has a little paunch (just don't mention that part to her). If she insists on wearing skin tight clothing, that won't work.
 
<--- looks for women in thread. The statistic you gentlemen are looking for is the percentage of purses snatched from women who have their pistols in said purse, not the percentage of purses snatched from women whose menfolk allow them to wander about unarmed. For the gentlemen against purse carry, we'd love to see pictures of you in high heels and a lbd, whilst concealing your 1911 w/out printing.
 
off-topic but related: a friend's father insisted on carrying his 2" revolver in a fanny pack. One night he got ambushed in a Walgreen's parking lot on Miami Beach. Didn't see it coming until the gun was in his face. The thief relieved him of his fanny pack which incidentally also contained his wallet and house keys. If you are going to carry off-body, it might be wise to keep your wallet, credit cards, and keys separately.
 
For the gentlemen against purse carry, we'd love to see pictures of you in high heels and a lbd, whilst concealing your 1911 w/out printing.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes: Carry a NAA 22 Mini on body and the real gun in the purse. Even if one is naked, a NAA 22 Mini can still be worn around your neck. Any gun is still better than sharp fingernails.
 
For the gentlemen against purse carry, we'd love to see pictures of you in high heels and a lbd, whilst concealing your 1911 w/out printing.
Click to expand...

I'm sure if that's the kind of pics you are into, there is a site somewhere for you.
 
CCW in purse - a bad idea

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I'm not female, but it seems that a very common way for women to carry concealed is to put their gun in their purse.
Click to expand...

Yep, you aren't a female.

This seems like a terrible idea. Purses are frequently stolen by thieves. So if some criminals swipes your purse, he not only has your wallet and any jewelry that might be in there, but also a gun.
Click to expand...

Hmm, sounds like a person should never be used for anything, but you aren't arguing that.

Isn't it better for women to carry on their person? Is it more challenging for women to do so?
Click to expand...
As noted above, yes and yes and for many, if not in the purse, then not at all.

Part of me thinks that women commonly choose their purse as a carrying location because they're choosing convenience over good planning.

What do you all think?
Click to expand...

I think that unless you have a better option to suit the circumstances of the given individual, then a global condemnation of the practice is misguided.

Convenience over good planning? I am sure you do this EVERY day as well. We all make compromises. Some of us do good planning to have convenience.

If my wife carries on her person, then she takes a significant reduction in firepower. So would I rather have my wife carry better firepower in her purse that she takes with her everywhere or less firepower on her person that she might not always have with her? The purse option is better for her circumstances.
 
As long as you keep glued to the purse, it's not a problem. I switched over to a maxpedition some years ago because layers of winter clothes and constant changing between work and commuting made on-person carry difficult. Plus in the winter having the firearm buried under layers can make it difficult to get to. With the fatboy it's always there, always in the same place, and always easy to get to. The real risk is that you'll leave the thing at a restaurant, but then plenty of IWB folks have left their guns on the backs of toilet seats.

I would suggest a purpose-built purse like the ones Galco makes, with a tough strap and a compartment for the handgun. I would not recommend tossing it into a standard purse with a bunch of lipstick and crud.

Every method of carrying has pluses and minuses. There is no one right way.
 
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