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Recently, I was told that I should not write about a subject unless I knew about it through first-hand experience. This individual was convinced there was no way I could write about purse-carry (an off-body carry method), because I am not a woman and do not carry a purse. Both points are valid and yet… Here we are.

It is both a fair and accurate observation. However, I do have a mom and a sister. Plus, I have had girlfriends, female friends, and have observed many others out in the world carrying purses. While I may not “qualify” in the strictest sense, I am hopeful that I can still bring a perspective and at least provide you some points to consider as you decide whether purse-carry (off-body) is right for you.

I also know there are two groups that may get their feathers ruffled over what I say in this post, those that sell purses for carrying firearms and those that have already bought one or more of them to carry their firearms. If you are reading this and fit into one of these two groups, bear with me. Hear (read) me out. I am going to try to be as fair and impartial as I can, while still giving you my honest opinion. Can’t knock me for that – Can you?

Off-Body Versus On-Body Carry

Off-body carry is when a firearm is carried off of the individual carrying the firearm in something like a backpack, kidney pouch, sling bag, or… you guessed it… a purse, etc.

On the flip side, on-body carry is a carry method such as inside-the-waistband (IWB), outside-the-waistband (OWB), appendix carry (AIWB), a belly band, etc. whereby a firearm is more in direct contact with and in control by the individual carrying the firearm.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Off-Body (Purse-) Carry

Since we are talking about purse-carry, we will therefore be focused on off-body carry primarily in this post. Like everything else, off-body carry comes with pros and cons; and we talk about a handful of them here. These lists are not meant to be exhaustive.

Advantages

The relevant advantages for those who might carry a purse, at least in my mind, are that off-body carry:

• Still affords the ability to carry concealed.
• Can be more comfortable since you don’t have some piece of hardware pressing into places on your body or pulling clothing down because of the weight of a firearm.
• Allows you not to have to adapt your wardrobe (or buy a new one) for carrying concealed.
• Enables you to work a firearm into a means of carry you may already be utilizing regularly.

Can anyone who currently purse-carries tell us any other advantages they have experienced? Leave them in the comments below.

Disadvantages

Some of the relevant disadvantages of off-body carry (purse-carry) to consider are:

• There is a chance your firearm may not be in your direct and immediate control at all times.
• The possible chance for negligent discharges, either due to the trigger not being properly covered in some cases and getting snagged on other loose items or the possibility of the hammer being snagged on something. Of course, striker fired semi-autos or revolvers without an external hammer do not apply for that last point.
• There is a chance of your off-body carry choice, in this case a purse, being snatched or striped off your person. They may not see you have a firearm; but they can see the purse.
• You may forget about a firearm being inside your purse, as you’ve gotten so used to it being there or maybe you have not gotten used to it being in there yet.
• The potential for your gun to be seen, inadvertently, when you go to grab something else from your purse while around others.
• Unintended access by others, like children, when you leave that off-body carry method unattended.
• Orientation of the muzzle may not be the safest when drawing, especially when in crowded environments. Not that this cannot be solved; but it should still be a consideration.

Some of the items above apply to other off-body carry methods as well; but I wanted to try and keep everything in context of purse-carry. Now, let me tell you the specific reasons why I do not like purse-carry.

The Specific Reasons Why I Do Not Like Purse-Carry

I have three reasons why I do not like purse-carry and why I think it does not make a good choice for carrying a gun.

You may be thinking, “Why does it even matter to you? You don’t carry a purse.” True enough, but the concerns I have are safety-related; and we are all about providing you with information that can help you be safer and better prepared (or at least informed). At the very least, I wanted to share these points so you can better decide if purse-carry really is a good idea for you.

Little to No Practice (or Training)

I know there is not a lot of practice going; because I know so many ranges do not allow drawing from concealment, a holster or a purse, as examples. How can you practice at the range if the range does not allow for what you need to do? It makes it frustrating for those who want to practice and have had at least some training to know what we are doing. The policies ruin it for everyone.

In fairness, it is a good call when dealing with the general public, as so many do not know what they are doing. And of course, you should not try until you have had some training yourself or at least have some supervision with you that can support your learning.

I believe training is especially important for those who purse-carry; but it seems like most folks never get training anyway. However, I would argue it is equally if not more important for purse-carry. Why? Because it is off-body and your firearm is likely in some special pocket, niche, or internal holster space that you must be able to effectively get to in order to access your firearm. And then add the stress of being under some sort of attack. Are you sure you can get to your firearm, get it out, and accurately and effectively employ it in that stressful situation? How do you know if you have never trained?

If you cannot get solid training that covers purse-carry or even practice at your local range, should you purse-carry? I will let you guess my answer.

Put Down or Left Behind

Get in the car and the purse gets put down. Run into the gas station and leave the purse in the vehicle for just “a second.” Put the purse in the trunk to keep it out of sight but forgot about it until later. Put the purse on the back of the chair while eating at the restaurant. With a significant other or friend, so go off and leave the purse with them for just a few minutes. Put the purse in the child’s seat in the grocery cart at the store while turning back to get groceries. Come home to play with kids, set the purse down, and go off to the bathroom for just a minute. 

What other instances of a purse being left behind or put down can you think of? I am certain there are many more.

Should a firearm be kept in something that seemingly gets left behind or not kept in your immediate control regularly?

When in Home

Speaking of putting purses down – When you get home, do you always keep your purse on your person or do you take it off and set it down? I bet I can guess. If your purse, with your firearm, is completely off your person when you are at home, how do you plan to reach it in time if something bad happens? Plus, what do you do to keep others out of it? If it is not on you, it is not remotely in your control.

Are you one to maybe take your purse off when you first get home but then constantly put it back on and take it back off again as you move from room to room? I bet you don’t; and if you do, you might be one of only a few in the world that does.

Where are the kids? Do your young kids just know not to ever touch your purse?

What about when you go out into the yard? Do you always keep your purse on you when you go work in the garden, plant flowers, get the mail in, or take the trash out?

What You Should Do When You Get Home

What do you do or what do you plan to do with any firearm you opt to carry in your purse when you get home? If you do what you should be doing, that gun comes out of that purse when you get home and goes directly onto your person in a holster (on-body); or if not, it gets locked away in a safe or similar for proper storage. Either option is a good option, especially if you do not live alone. Of course, if something bad happens when you are home and you do not have your gun on you, that’s bad.

Sure, maybe you live alone with no significant other, visitors, or kids. In this case, you might get away with leaving your purse unattended most of the time; but is that a habit you need to be working to build should you elect to carry your firearm in said purse? I contend it is not. Just the opposite, in fact.

And if you happen to live in a high(er) crime area, which may be a reason you got a firearm in the first place, do you really want to leave that firearm unattended? Purse or not, how are you going to get to it in time if you have left it in another room?

Things to Do If You Purse-Carry

• Talk with your local gun ranges to encourage them to allow drawing from purses. A part of this is to consider taking training from these ranges, as sometimes if they get to know you and your capabilities they may let you do things that you normally would not be able to do. And just know too it could all be an insurance issue for some of these ranges.
• Talk to others who have been purse-carrying to see if they have any nuggets of wisdom that may help you in your firearms-carrying journey. Know that there is a lot of bad information out there, especially from those that do not shoot much, have not gotten training of any sort, or are living a fantasy about what they are going to be able to do.
• Seek training that supports purse-carry in the training. Lots of good instructors and schools out there. Look them up, email or call them and see if they support it in any of their classes. Just know this is something likely not going to be available in basic or beginners’ classes. Like drawing from a holster, instructors need to see that you know what you are doing and are safe before letting you do more advanced exercises. You will likely need to work your way up through any stages of training offered.
• Keep gun safety rules top of mind at all times. Of course, I tell everyone that.

Other Things Too

• Do your part. Practice at home regularly, with no ammo around, drawing from your purse and getting one or more shots off. You can use snap caps, a laser system, or plain dry firing to accomplish your practice. The point is you can practice getting your firearm from your purse and thinking about all the different aspects of doing so in the comfort and safety of your home. Be sure to follow the four gun safety rules at all times. Of course, dry firing is a great practice even if you aren’t purse-carrying.
• If you absolutely demand an off-body carry option, then maybe consider a sling bag or kidney pouch, as you may be less likely to remove them and set them down since they get worn. Maybe?
• Of course, if all else fails, consider on-body carry for your firearm carrying needs.

Conclusion

Both sellers of concealed carry purses and those thinking about purchasing them have an important responsibility. Sellers should inform prospective purchasers of the pros and cons of purse-carry. Consumers need to have done their research, ask questions, and think through all the implications and what considerations they need to take into account.

If you are considering the purchase of a concealed carry purse, I hope this post has provided some useful information in choosing the right solution for your firearm carry needs. For those who have already made the purchase, I hope I provided some points you may not have thought through previously. If you happen to be waffling on your decision to purse-carry, just remember it is never too late to re-think and go a different direction once you receive new information. Our needs and wants can change along our journeys; and OwnGuard Solutions is happy to support you on yours.

Remember, any carry method requires some getting used, an adjustment period, and possibly some habit changes so you can safely and effectively carry a firearm, no matter how you opt to carry.

And lastly, I hope I did not ruffle too many feathers, either way. Thanks for reading my perspective and opinions.

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