IS PURSE CARRYING SAFE?

Carrying a firearm in a bag is becoming more popular nowadays, especially for women. In fact, in Mississippi, there was a decision that this method is not considered concealed carrying.

The honest truth with purse carrying is that, it can be dangerous for everyone even if done carefully and properly. Because the purse is not attached to the body, an attacker may easily seize the firearm from you.

But, what if purse carrying is the only option, and there are no other methods for you to conceal a firearm?

Let’s take a glance at some real stories regarding purse carrying. You may learn from these stories and you can decide for yourself whether this method will really work for you.

Case 1. Purses Are Easily Taken Away From Your Possession

What if somebody approached you and unexpectedly seized your bag? The primary concern here would not be just for yourself but also for the bag! Not only will a thief be able to take your money, he can also take away your life!

Example: A police officer from New York who was off duty had her bag seized by a thief in a parking lot. She was beaten by the thief and wasn’t able to fight back. The thief successfully got the bag and instantly won a semi-automatic pistol.

She was seen in the surveillance video trying hard to keep the purse on her person while the thief was beating her in the face. In this case, the victim was concerned for her bag and not with her protection. This is the reason why purse carrying is not a good method. But then, even an inside-the-waistband holder would not save the police officer in this case. That was just a really unfortunate day for her.

According to Carrie: “Women who are interested in keeping their purse secure should select a purse with reinforced steel straps. Also, I recommend that you carry cross body because it’s a lot harder to pull the purse away or maneuver it out of your reach. Lastly, I always consult women to take concealed carry purse training classes and some defensive hand-to-hand as a way to counter close quarters attackers.”

Case 2. It Is Not Safe For Everyone – Especially For Children

If you decide to purse carry, then you should equip the purse with a holster for the gun. Having a pistol inside the bag without a holster is not safe. You will realize this if a wrong person gets into the bag without your knowing and takes the gun inside it.

Example 1: A 2-year-old boy had his mother’s purse while she was shopping at Walmart with several kids. He accidentally fired the gun that was concealed in the purse and hit his mother who immediately died on the scene.

Situational awareness at all times is a requirement for all types of concealed carrying. In this case, the gun was not in the owner’s possession and was not secured on her body. While she was busy shopping around, she was not able to control her firearm.

According to Carrie: “Keep your purse on your body all of the time – cross body preferred.  If this mother had done just this – it wouldn’t have happened. Also, keep your purse out of reach of any unauthorized person.  If you can’t ensure it’s secured to your body, lock it in a file cabinet at work (as a last resort) or ideally a gun safe.  Put your gun on your body when you get home and change your clothes or put it in a safe when you get home or to office. Lastly, consider getting a concealed carry pack – like a fanny pack – a purse that attaches to the body.”

Example 2: A 3-year-old boy in New Mexico accidentally shot his mother and father with the same bullet when he pulled out his mother’s gun from her purse.

According to Carrie: “All concealed carry requires changes to lifestyle.  This is especially true when dealing with children.  That’s why it’s important to have a secure compartment within your purse and always make sure the purse is slung cross-body and stays in contact with you at all times. Treat your concealed carry purse like you would a newborn baby.  It is as a always with you, always in your sight and never unattended.”

Counter Points

Even though carrying in a holster is a good option, some people lose their firearms from holsters.

Example: An off-duty deputy in San Diego accidentally dropped his pistol in an airsoft course, and a 10-year-old boy discovered it. When the boy recognized that it wasn’t an airsoft pistol, he picked it up and decided to return it to a range control officer. But while carrying the pistol, it accidentally discharged in his hand. Fortunately, no one was hurt in that incident.

Another case is about a firearm carried in SUV shows it is not safe as well.

Example: A deputy from Orange County had his sub machine gun, semi-automatic rifle, two pistols and body armor stolen by two burglars in his SUV which was parked in a driveway.

Well, this shows that the safety of the gun does not really depend on the carrying method used by a person – it’s complacency that is really the cause. People are getting used to the environment and always think that each day will be the same.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported that there are 190,000 lost and stolen firearms in 2012. A single firearm which is either lost or stolen can already put the community in danger.

The bottom line here is that, even though purse carry is considered less secured than using holsters, it is really not the one to be blamed but the person who owns the firearm.

Purse Carry Being the Only Option

What if the only option is purse carry? The point here is that, if there are other possible options available at the time, go for it, and never be dependant on complacency. Wherever you go, there is always a possibility that the purse will be snatched from you or the firearm will be snatched from your holster, but situational awareness will decrease the risk.