CCW in purse - a bad idea

[M-Cameron]

I wouldn't recommend carrying in a purse for 2 reasons...

1) I used to work security, and part of my job was checking bags....I've seen the crap women carry in their purses...90% of all the bags I've seen were bottomless pits...wallets, glasses, keys, bottles, papers, lotions, cameras, ect....for most people , a gun would get lost or even worse, something could loop around the trigger causing an AD.

Which leads to #2...

2) I've never seen a woman who can get something out of their purse in less than 20seconds....if someone is attacking me, I wouldn't want to fish around my bag to find my sidearm.

Now I'm obviously not a woman, but if I were , I think sacrificing wearing trendy yoga pants would be a small price to pay to be able to properly carry a gun on my person.

 

[md2lgyk]

There are purses designed for concealed carry. Doesn't address the problem of it being stolen/snatched, but does make access to the weapon a lot easier.

My wife is not opposed to guns, but doesn't want to carry herself. I'm almost thankful for that - she's always misplacing her purse, car keys, cell phone, etc. Since she works with grade school kids (private school art teacher), misplacing her purse at work would definitely be a bad thing. I bought her some LEO-grade OC a while back, but I'm not sure she even has it any more.

 

[JustinJ]

Yeah, it sucks if a gun ends up in the hands of a criminal but i don't imagine many purse snatchers hang around to look through their grab so the gun being turned on the woman seems unlikley. Carrying in a purse is certainly better than not carrying at all. Most women simply don't dress in a manner condusive to cc. If situated accordingly a woman can carry a gun in her hand while covered by the purse while walking to her car or through a questionable area. It could also be accessed in a mass shooting scenario.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I wouldn't recommend carrying in a purse for 2 reasons...

1) I used to work security, and part of my job was checking bags....I've seen the crap women carry in their purses...90% of all the bags I've seen were bottomless pits...wallets, glasses, keys, bottles, papers, lotions, cameras, ect....for most people , a gun would get lost or even worse, something could loop around the trigger causing an AD.

Which leads to #2...

2) I've never seen a woman who can get something out of their purse in less than 20seconds....if someone is attacking me, I wouldn't want to fish around my bag to find my sidearm.

Now I'm obviously not a woman, but if I were , I think sacrificing wearing trendy yoga pants would be a small price to pay to be able to properly carry a gun on my person.

Basically, your argument comes down to women carry in their purses out of vanity and what is inside their purse is an absolute mess and safety hazard which cannot allow for any sort of reasonably quick deployment...and this is based on your experience as a part time security guard.

Those are some pretty biased and gross generalizations.

 

[M-Cameron]

Basically, your argument comes down to women carry in their purses out of vanity and what is inside their purse is an absolute mess and safety hazard which cannot allow for any sort of reasonably quick deployment...and this is based on your experience as a part time security guard.

Those are some pretty biased and gross generalizations.

Ummm, not quite....

Women carry purses for whatever reasons they choose, could be vanity, could be pure practicality....i don't really care nor does it really make a difference...

Now statically, yes, women's handbags are a mess, and would pose a safety risk if you were to place a handgun inside one....of the easily thousands if bags I've seen, The vast majority if them were cluttered and disorganized.

My mentioning being a security guard was mearly a pretext as to why I've seen thousands if bags, and was not meant to convey any sense if professional opinion as to proper carry protocol....everything I've said is mearly my personal opinion.

And as stated, there are conceal carry purses, which make the gun more easily accessible and protected from bag contents... However I'm inclined to believe that most if the women who carry a gun in their purse are not using such a system, which is why I didn't adress it in my initial reply.

 

[Cosmoline]

So really you're complaining about carrying with clutter around the firearm. The solution is to get a bag or purse made for the purpose, not to declare that purse carrying is a bad idea.

 

[M-Cameron]

So really you're complaining about carrying with clutter around the firearm. The solution is to get a bag or purse made for the purpose, not to declare that purse carrying is a bad idea.

Bag clutter aside I still think its a bad idea...and it's not just limited to purses, I think carrying Ina backpack, briefcase, ect. Is a bad idea.

As stated before, it's far to easy to set a bag down, forget it somewhere, have someone walk off with it, inadvertently hand it to someone else, ect....It is very easy to become separated from a bag.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Carrying in a purse is a BAD idea in general. Sure, better than not carrying at all, but it still is a BAD idea. Carrying in a purse for MOST women is a bad idea.

I've been married a couple of times and dated quite a few women and let me tell you; not a single one had an organized purse. I don't think any of them would have had a chance of getting a gun out of their purse even if the BG was 50 yards away.

Unless the woman has a special concealment purse, they have little chance of getting their gun out if it is unorganized. Even if it is organized, a woman still has a slimmer chance of getting to her gun than someone who carries on their person.

BTW, has anyone ever heard of a woman being tossed into a trunk with her purse or a guy being tossed into the trunk with their briefcase?

 

[Pilot]

Carrying in a purse is a BAD idea in general. Sure, better than not carrying at all, but it still is a BAD idea. Carrying in a purse for MOST women is a bad idea.

I've been married a couple of times and dated quite a few women and let me tell you; not a single one had an organized purse. I don't think any of them would have had a chance of getting a gun out of their purse even if the BG was 50 yards away.

Unless the woman has a special concealment purse, they have little chance of getting their gun out if it is unorganized. Even if it is organized, a woman still has a slimmer chance of getting to her gun than someone who carries on their person.

BTW, has anyone ever heard of a woman being tossed into a trunk with her purse or a guy being tossed into the trunk with their briefcase?

Women's purses are the Black Holes of Black Holes. However, there are some purses designed with separate compartments, specifically for a pistol. Not optimal but better than being thrown into that mess, and I mean MESS.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Bag clutter aside I still think its a bad idea...and it's not just limited to purses, I think carrying Ina backpack, briefcase, ect. Is a bad idea.

That is fine, but completely different from your biased and gross generalizations about women having messy purses and not carrying on their person because of wanting to wear yoga pants which you feel they aren't willing to sacrifice for what you consider to be proper carry.

 

[Cosmoline]

It is very easy to become separated from a bag.

Only if you leave it laying around. The same issue applies to handguns removed from belts in the john. And in that case it's the raw firearm, not a mere bag, to be concerned about.

Not everyone goes around with jeans and a cover shirt all day. And not all of us wear the same clothes all day. I guess i have that much in common with women, so the man purse makes a lot of sense. I'm laughing at the idea of doing my commute in January wearing a dress shirt and slacks at ten below zero.

 

[M-Cameron]

That is fine, but completely different from your biased and gross generalizations about women having messy purses and not carrying on their person because of wanting to wear yoga pants which you feel they aren't willing to sacrifice for what you consider to be proper carry.

I'm sorry, this is a general discussion gun forum, not a scientific research summit, I figured generalized assumptions based upon current fashion trends and first Hand experience would be sufficient enough to have a conversation......apparently I was mistaken, it won't happen again as I'm already funding a team of DARPA scientists to investigate and fully document the matter.... No more generalized assumptions ever again.

 

[TX_QtPi]

Wow... lots of very manly opinions.. no offense guys. But Being a woman, I do NOT like or advocate purse carry.

You are NOT in control of your purse at all times. As much as we like to think so it's a fact. It's hung behind a chair, in a car seat, hanging off your arm but not easily or quickly accessible.

There ARE carry purses designed for this with the break away or zippered compartment but honestly, they look like crap. Not all of them but most of them. We like Big pretty fashionable purses, most of the carry purses are none of these.

And Yes, our purses carry EVERYTHING, purse for a woman = tool box for a guy, best way ti sum it up. I was raised very "survival" oriented So I got a pocket knife, lighter (dont smoke), mini wound kit (sanitizer, band aids, small tube of neosporin, and other stuff) along with make up, wallet, personal products, snacks change ect... It's a MESS... so even with the compartment on the side the junk on the other side still affects the way your carry arm sits.

I do have many alternatives for carry though, aside from different IWB holsters, I have used a belly band, a Thigh holster (for short dresses) and a Calf holster for longer dresses. Even a Bra holster (not the flash bang) that attaches to the side so it's nearly under my arm like a shoulder holster but up higher on a bra strap... for use with T shirts and stuff

I will say as a woman I found I need holsters like I need shoes (guys don't roll your eyes) Dressing in something a little more fitted or flirty does require us to be creative in CC.

As for the purse, it serves better as a distraction in case of a robbery or assault attempt, give up the purse, throw it at the attacker, drop it away from you, hell, even hand it to him if you're gutsy... This gives you time to draw while he is distracted by the purse.

Oh, my btw, I cycle my EDC between a S&W SD40 VE, Taurus PT 24/7 Pro CDS, and a Colt .357 snuby

 

[Old_Gun_Hand]

It is not a bad idea if you buy a purse made for carrying a gun. It just is not the best choice as is any off body carry method. However since the great majority of us will never need to use the guns we carry, I have no problem with someone choosing comfort over being uncomfortable for the rest of their life. How many people do you know who had to quick draw to save their lives? Be guided accordingly.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

How many people do you know who had to quick draw to save their lives?

Not many, but I know several people who have had their purses or backpacks stolen.

 

[WardenWolf]

There was a story of a woman who was walking in a bad area and had her hand in her purse on her gun. Guy snatched her purse right off her shoulder, leaving her holding her gun. Let's just say he isn't exactly living anymore.

 

[herrwalther]

Most purses are bottomless pits. And as such they would make a bad location for a firearm. If memory serves didn't a .25 derringer go off when dropped from a bag in Starbucks. That is how to not carry a firearm. A good holster in a dedicated pocket is ideal for purse carry. In order for the wife to carry her Bursa Thunder, she got a Galco Carrysafe holster which can clip it into a purse pocket. Instead of spending $300+ on a gun toten mama purse.

Wow... lots of very manly opinions.. no offense guys. But Being a woman, I do NOT like or advocate purse carry.

Thank you for your input into an unknown topic for most men. The beauty of carrying in the US is if you don't like a certain measure of carry, there are many others to choose from. I am not a big fan of OWB or shoulder carry (only for formal occasions) so I carry IWB and sometimes pocket/ankle carry. My wife carries a Bersa in her purse as mentioned and a NAA .22Mag on her body. I try to persuade her to carry on her body only. But that one firearm in purse carry is comfortable for her, regardless of the risks associated.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I'd rather consult people who do carry purses on this question...

http://www.corneredcat.com/article/holsters/should-i-carry-in-my-purse/
Should I Carry in my Purse?

 

[Fire_Moose]

Maybe its just the women I know but none of them can ever seem to find anything in their purse....

Sent from my CZ85 Combat

 

[Chris-bob]

I don't see a problem with it. Better to carry any way than not at all. If they are aware of their surroundings, they should have plenty of time to prepare by finding their pistol. Even if it is a mess in there. Now if I could only get my wife to carry a purse instead of a money clip...

 

[threefeathers]

Two of my favorite women shooters are designing a thigh holster for women that will actually be usable. I understand one of those women designers is a mod here, so the final result will be a good one.

 

[Losov]

I think the purse is an extremely bad idea, worse than not carrying. What's the bad guy gonna grab? Now what does he have, in addition to your wallet?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

If a purse must be used, it should be either made with or modified for a separate, dedicated compartment that holds the gun in position. It should never be loose inside.

 

[OurSafeHome.net]

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.

Au contraire! Autos will fire about 1.x times from inside a purse. I (and others) have demonstrated this several times. Wheelguns will fire 5/5 or 6/6 times from within a purse. Hammerless, shrouded hammer, bobbed hammer or, ummm, hammerful revolvers will all work from within a purse. Try it. (I have.)

A purse carrier can hold car keys in one hand and have their strong hand (now follow me here) inside the purse and on the weapon, index finger extended along the frame of the weapon. If the purse carrier is set upon by a bandit, the weapon is pressed up against the attacker, at contact distance, and fired several times, right through the purse.

The probability that any one of us will have to use our weapon is one that approaches zero, so that makes that part of the equation difficult to solve, meaningfully. The probability that an auto pistol will fire twice is low, and thrice is virtually zero, vs. the wheelgun's near 100% probability of functioning . Combine the reliability and a time to draw/present of zero, this can be a great advantage, in a fight.

Don't trust me, try it out for yourself.

 

[Al Thompson]

Darn folks, it's not the odds, it's the stakes.

Tip from a former moderator - if you are going to carry loose in a purse, bag, what ever, put the gun in a Zip-Lok bag. Keeps the firearm clean and you can grasp the handgun as normal and stick your finger right through the plastic when polling the trigger.