Support for purse carry not being a good idea

[Tinman357]

Well.......

As far as I've been able to ascertain over the last several decades, every method of carry has some kind of drawback. Something that has to be compromised on. Purse carry, if done with the proper equipment and training, isn't any more of a comprise than some others. It can be plenty fast enough, as many incedents have proven.

Some women can't, or won't, carry any other way. If it works for them and they work to mitigate the problems inherent to that mode of carry, then carry on. Stay safe.

 

[Balrog]

Generally, this thread is stupid. But what's new.

If I had a choice of my wife having a gun in her purse, or no gun at all, I say she is better off with it in her purse. I do think a holster is a must, and a separate compartment would be highly desirable.

 

[pharmer]

My wife went to the movies yesterday. They searched her purse. On body or leave it in the car/house. Joe

 

[Onward Allusion]

Unless a woman dresses like a man, it's not going to be easy to carry on body. Purse carry is definitely not ideal, but it is better than not carrying - period. If one is going to purse carry, do so in a crossbody purse, nothing in the compartment that houses the gun, & make sure the pocket is on the outside next to the strong hand.

 

[coloradokevin]

My wife purse carries. She has a purse designed with a built-in holster and the strap on the purse is designed so that it can't be easily broken if someone tries to grab and pull it away from her.

Admittedly a purse isn't as good of a place to carry as a belt holster. But, she's a 105 pound female with a slight build. She can't wear any of her normal clothing and conceal her S&W Shield in the way that I could (it would print even in most of her jackets). So, her option has been to carry in the purse or not carry at all. A gun in a purse is more likely to be useable for self-defense than a gun in a safe at home.

Awareness is key here. If my wife fails to notice a possible threat approaching, that gun in her purse may do her no good (the same could be said for the gun on my hip if I also fail to notice a threat approaching). But, if she is aware of a possible threat before the attack occurs (ex: someone following her through a parking lot or a parking garage at night), then she has time to get her hand on the gun before things go south.

It's a balancing act, for sure. I wish she could/would belt carry. But, she has carried her gun every single day since she got her purse, and carried it maybe once or twice before she had that option. Something is better than nothing. Personally, I mostly worry about her setting the purse down and someone grabbing it if she isn't paying close enough attention to it.

 

[FL-NC]

Besides the issues with accessibility and internal clutter, yes, there are purses made for carrying handguns. But I have yet to meet a woman who can survive with a 1 purse inventory. If someone has a SO who can make it work, go for it.

 

[old lady new shooter]

Besides the issues with accessibility and internal clutter, yes, there are purses made for carrying handguns. But I have yet to meet a woman who can survive with a 1 purse inventory. If someone has a SO who can make it work, go for it.

I have one purse that I use for everything except formal occasions. No concealed carry here in L.A. County, so it's not a gun purse, just responding to the idea that women always have a multitude of purses. (I did use more purses when I was younger.) That said, gun purses are now available that look a lot like Coach bags and any woman who's into matching every outfit with its own purse would not have a problem doing so.

 

[coloradokevin]

My wife uses her one purse for almost everything. On the rare occasion when she needs a more formal purse it typically means we are out together (in which case I'm armed).

 

[FL-NC]

Purses and other such girl items aren't a subject that I can speak to with any authority, as I don't carry one- only the observations that a) they are easily taken by someone who really wants it, esp. if he is stronger than the person carrying it, b), they are generally full of clutter, and c) MOST women I know have a battery of purses. If all of these issues can be made into non-issues through training and other means, go for it. As far as the poster who mentioned a purse with a sturdy strap that is difficult to break, I'm not sure that is a good thing- I think it may put the owner in a tug-o-war with a person who may be a lot stronger pulling on one end with both hands while the owner is resisting with a strap wrapped about the neck and/or shoulder area. As a former paratrooper I can't help but think of a "towed jumper"- which is bad. Kevin, that's all well and good that you are prepared to protect your wife when/if the need should arise (that's expected) but who will protect both of you in the event you are incapacitated or worse at the outset of an incident? Just something to think about.....

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I have one purse that I use for everything except formal occasions. No concealed carry here in L.A. County, so it's not a gun purse, just responding to the idea that women always have a multitude of purses. (I did use more purses when I was younger.) That said, gun purses are now available that look a lot like Coach bags and any woman who's into matching every outfit with its own purse would not have a problem doing so.

Bear with me, I am only familiar with Alaska law, but is putting a gun in a purse considered CC? Why is that any different then walking down the street with it in the box it came in?

 

[aarondhgraham]

Hello jim in Anchorage,,,

Why is that any different then walking down the street with it in the box it came in?

If the gun is unloaded and no ammo is near it,,,
Most laws say you are "transporting".

But if the gun is loaded it is always considered "carrying",,,
Whether it's in a box, purse, or on your body.

That's why for a short while in California,,,
People could openly carry an unloaded handgun.

Most of the time when I am carrying,,,
It's using one of these briefcases from guntotenmamas.com.



It has a steel cable running the length of the strap,,,
I don't think it can be slashed-and-grabbed.

I always wear it with the strap cross body,,,
I can have my hand on my gun and no one knows,,,
This is very comforting walking across a dark parking lot.

Is it a bad idea? Heck no.

Is it ideal? Heck no.

It's simply another way of carrying,,,
Complete with it's own unique set of pros and cons.

Aarond

.

 

[splattergun]

I'm in the "a gun in a purse is better than none at all" camp. why? Because my younger daughter carries that way. She's a skinny little critter, and normally wears clothing that does not lend well to concealing anything but herself.
So, we got her a couple purses designed for CCW, including reinforced straps and pockets specifically designed for a pistol in holster.

BUT! That's not all. Like any method of carry, training is the key! She carries her purse with the strap crossed over to the opposite shoulder so that it can't be easily grabbed away. She keeps her hand in the pocket on the grip, and carries her keys in her left hand, so that she never has to let go of the pistol just to unlock her car or house. She practices drawing from her purse. I have to say, with her constant state of readiness, her draw-to-fire is much quicker than anyone I've seen carrying IWB.

 

[X-Rap]

Better in a purse than at home just like better in the car than at home. Sometimes work or clothes may not allow on body all the time.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[old lady new shooter]

Bear with me, I am only familiar with Alaska law, but is putting a gun in a purse considered CC? Why is that any different then walking down the street with it in the box it came in?

I can only speak to California, specifically Los Angeles County.

In LA County, regular people do not get issued cc permits. So the general state law controls, which is that when transporting a gun it has to be unloaded in a locked case and there can't be ammo in the case with it. In your car the glove box is specifically called out as not qualifying as a locked case.

So if your gun is loaded in a gun purse on your person and you are neither on your own property, at your place of business if you are the owner or have the owner's permission, in your house of worship unless you have permission from the relevant authority, in your hotel room, at the range, or in your campground, you are carrying, and unless you're one of the select few in LA County with a permit, you are breaking the law.

 

[kBob]

Back in the 1980's I was discussing this very issue with a female FBI agent. She allowed as how most women have few carry options that did not allow them to be spotted.

Having been trying to figure where she was carrying in her summer skirt blouse and jacket I was curious to find out how she concealed so well.

She was carrying a J frame in a garter belt holster on the inside of one thigh.

Old J. Edgar would have had a heart attack at how she showed me the rig......

Purse carry would seem more modest, at least.

-kBob

 

[JellyJar]

Well just today just over an hour ago I had to drive my older neighbor to a pharmacy to retrieve her purse that she had dropped in the parking lot yesterday!

She doesn't carry but I bet a lot of women around here carry and do so in their purse. She said it was the first time in her life she had ever done that. She had no idea her purse was missing until they called her!

Nothing is perfect but purse carry is too problematic for me!