Using Concealed Carry Purse: What You Need to Know

Carrying a concealed carry purse can prove to be riskier than not having one on you. But if you really need one, here are some actionable ways you can minimize its risks and make it a viable concealed carry alternative.

Using a Concealed Carry Purse the Right Way

Let’s face it. You should never use a concealed carry purse if you can help it.

The truth is that your purse is inherently more at risk than your belt since someone can much more easily run by and snatch your purse away then they can anything else on your body.

However, there may come a time when you need to use a purse for concealed carry. It's either because your current clothes don’t work with your CC holster or because of other factors.

Practice Good Purse Proximity

First and foremost, be sure to always keep your purse extremely close at hand.

If your purse is pressed tightly to your body and you always have a hand on it, chances are slim to none that someone will be able to whisk it away from you, and even less that someone will try.

Basically, act like your purse has the most important object in the world in it.

And it might if you’re ever in a self-defense situation and need your handgun.

Keep Guns in Separate Pockets/Holsters

Another good idea is to keep any gun(s) you wish to carry in your purse in a separate pocket.

This pocket should be easily reachable and identifiable compared to the main compartments in your purse.

We’d also recommend keeping your weapon in a holster.

This may sound counterintuitive, but keeping your handgun in a holster will help keep the weapon in a specific orientation and prevent loose change or other items from slipping between your gun’s finger loop and the trigger.

Secure a Gun to a Purse Interior

Even more importantly, we’d recommend securing the holster that keeps your handgun to the inside of your purse, either through sewing magic, duct tape, or anything else you can think of.

This prevents your gun from shifting around on the inside of your purse and potentially ending up upside down.

Remember, the idea of a concealed carry weapon in your purse in the first place is that you should be able to retrieve it ASAP if you need it.

You can’t do that if the handgun is in an orientation you don’t expect and the grip isn’t ready to be grabbed in an instant.

Securing your handgun to the inside of your purse lets you dictate how you can grab it and prevents it from tumbling around inside.

If Kids Are Present, Only Use a Purse with a Locking Zipper

 

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Things are necessarily more serious if you travel with kids.

In this case, the only way to conceal carry a weapon in your purse is to do so with a purse that has a locking zipper.

You can't take any chances with kids reaching into your purse and pulling out your shooter, at all.

Not only is this arguably a criminal offense, but it’s also a recipe for disaster.

Of course, a locking zipper does mean that it takes longer to open your purse — those seconds may mean everything in a self-defense situation.

This may mean that purses, kids, and concealed carry weapons are mutually exclusive, but that’s for you to decide.

Minimizing the Risk

Ultimately, you should still try to only practice concealed carrying with real holsters that attach to your body or your clothing instead of carrying your gun in your purse.

But if you do need to do this, be sure to follow the above tips to minimize the risk of an accident and help you retrieve your gun quickly if you end up needing it.

What are the reasons why you prefer a concealed carry purse over a holster? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section!

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