How many of my female readers carry their firearm in a purse? If you are one, you might want to read this story and reconsider your mode of carry….
Off-Duty Cop Wounded When Gun Accidentally Fires in Salon
Guns don’t just “go off”. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that this happened because the firearm’s trigger was uncovered and something got caught in the trigger guard. When she moved the purse, that “something” moved the trigger to the rear thus firing a round.
Ladies, please don’t carry your pistol loose in your purse! I recognize that women’s fashions make it difficult to conceal a decent sized gun while still looking feminine. But you still have to consider the purse as a LAST choice. It’s too easy to leave unattended and thieves will often target your purse in a crime. Both can have disastrous consequences.
If you do choose to carry in your purse, the gun must go into a pocket BY ITSELF! No lipstick, Altoids, or dirty tissues to get wrapped up around the gun. It must also be in a holster that covers the trigger guard to prevent incidents like this. The best option is to buy a purse made specifically to carry a gun. Because I’m hardly the proper authority on women’s purses, I will refer you to THIS article by Kathy Jackson about choosing a proper gun purse.
DeSantis "Superfly" holster
If you can’t or won’t buy a gun purse, follow the advice above and carry the weapon in a separate pocket with nothing else inside. I would suggest carrying the gun in a holster that covers the trigger guard to prevent accidental discharges. Pocket holsters are inexpensive and work well for this purpose. My favorites are the DeSantis Nemesis and Superfly. Both are quality holsters that will stay in place as you draw the weapon.
An even better option would be to carry your gun on your person! There are several holster types that allow women to comfortably carry a pistol on their bodies, rather than in a purse. You may have to try several to figure out which type works best for you.
Many of my female students find that carrying a weapon in the “appendix” position conceals better and is more comfortable than carrying the gun behind the hip. If you are interested in this carry type, you can find good holster recommendations in my article HERE.
One other innovative new product is the Flashbang Holster. While I haven’t seen it in action, it is getting some rave reviews by female shooters online. Here’s a fair and honest review of the holster and here is a VIDEO of it in action.
Every person is different. Some of you may like the purse carry, some may go for a more traditional holster…or even the Flashbang! Whatever method you use to carry your pistol, please make sure you practice drawing in all possible positions and using BOTH hands! It would be a very bad day if you found out you couldn’t draw from your favorite holster while you were under attack, laying on the ground with an injured arm. Be safe and PRACTICE!
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A bad experience: I used to sleep with a chambered round in my Glock next to my bed, in a tight fitting holster that protects the trigger. I dreamed I was fighting hand-to-hand, drew the Glock and fired it. Woke up with the loud noise, smoking Glock in my hand…Now I no longer keep a round chambered when sleeping. True story, let’s all learn from it.
Does a woman have to have a chl to carry a gun in her purse? Isn’t it like keeping a gun in your car?
It depends on the state.