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Concealed Carry Handbags
Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the choices for concealed carry handbags? There are a lot of things to consider when looking for a purse meant to hold a loaded firearm. As a concealed weapons carrier myself, I’ve spent many hours researching and buying concealed carry accessories. After many mishaps and returned products, I’ve learned that there are a few vitally important things to consider before buying one of these exclusive bags.
Whether you are new to what to look for in a concealed carry purse, or you are gift-shopping for a special lady you already know packs a pistol, I’ve summed up the answers to 5 crucial questions you need to think about before buying concealed carry bags for women.
- What is off-body carry and when is it right for you?
- How will the gun fit in the purse?
- What if the purse holster doesn’t cover the trigger guard?
- How will the handbag be worn so the gun can be quickly found, firmly gripped, and safely withdrawn?
- What level of protection does the handbag offer against oncoming bullets?
Or, do you already know what to look out for and just want a little inspiration? I’ll show you how I use my concealed carry bags, and how I wear a backpack as a crossbody purse – the ONLY way I’ll carry a firearm in my backpack because, Hello? Who wants their loaded gun only accessible from behind?
This post is all about concealed carry handbags.
Concealed Carry for Women
1. What is Off-Body Carry and When is it Right for You?
Off-body carry refers to carrying a concealed firearm in a location that is not attached to the body. Examples of off-body carry include keeping the concealed weapon in a handbag, backpack, tote, pouch, or fanny pack.
According to a recent 2020 report put out by the Crime Prevention Research Center, the number of concealed carry weapons (CCW) permit holders in the US is almost 20 million, up 34% since 2016. Even more interesting, permits for women are not only steadily increasing, but they made up over 26% of the nation’s total (in those states that provide gender data, that is).
It should be no surprise that the steady increase in female permit holders has come with a commensurate increase in the demand for products designed for fashionable concealed carry.
I admit that I got a little carried away with all the super-cool choices. I mean, holsters built into tank tops? Into leggings? Not to mention, the undeniably sexy, thigh holster…
Being responsible for a loaded weapon that is not secured to your body presents the obvious challenges. As a mother, keeping guns out of the reach of my children was my highest priority. Because of that, if my guns were out of the safe, they were affixed to my person at all times. I’m just too absent-minded to have it any other way.
Once my kids got older, though, carrying off-body became more of an option.
However women in the United States are deciding to carry their personal defense, we’re not just out there accessorizing. Women are using a gun to defend themselves against sexual assault as many as 200,000 times a year. I love this. I don’t love that women are put in the position to have to defend themselves against sexual crimes. I love that we are equipped to defend ourselves.
Concealed Carry Purse
2. How Will the Gun Fit in the Purse?
Once the decision is made to tote a gun around in a handbag, it’s time to get the right bag. That’s right, loaded firearms don’t just get thrown into any old purse big enough to accommodate it. These bags require a dedicated compartment specifically designed to secure a holster within the “concealed pocket”. These pockets keep the gun separate from all other purse contents that would otherwise get in the way of a quick draw.
The first thing you have to know when shopping for a concealed carry handbag is how big your gun is. Gun retailers have their product specifications readily available online. After all, consumers are out there shopping for holsters, bags, and everything else for their guns. It will look something like this:
Next, it’s important to note what the dimensions are for the concealed pocket size – this is what helps you decide whether or not your gun is too big for its space. Purse retailers will usually list the actual concealed pocket size, a suggested gun size, or both, giving their shoppers some buying guidelines. Personally, I’m more of a visual person and think in terms of guns:
Some bags have locking pockets, offering another level of protection against unauthorized access to the gun. I personally don’t use the locking mechanism if my bags happen to come with them. The last thing I want is to turn my purse into an obstacle course to even get to my means of personal defense.
Concealed Carry Accessories
3. What if the Purse Holster Doesn’t Cover the Trigger Guard?
Time to address the purse holster. These holsters are made to fit the purse, not the gun.
When you buy a gun, you get a holster that’s made to the specifications of the gun, providing firm protection all the way around the trigger. The harder-shell holsters, like those made from Kydex, actually snap the gun into place, making for a pretty worry-free holster. The complimentary holster that comes inside the concealed carry handbag is sized to fit the pocket that the gun is going into. These generic holsters are just that. Generalized. A-dime-a-dozen. Know that going in.
Pockets in a concealed carry purse are usually lined with velcro strips so that the accompanying purse holster, also velcro, sticks to the sides of the pocket. All of this extra serves one main purpose: to keep the holster secured in place. When the gun is reached for, it’s pulled out by the handle. The holster is left out of the way, stuck to the inside of the pocket. 
As with any holster, when the gun is housed inside, the trigger needs to be completely covered. Blocking access to the trigger is what keeps grabby hands from accidentally squeezing it and firing the gun before it’s ready to be fired. In other words, you need to keep that covered up until you’re good and ready to shoot.
Since these standard purse holsters are basically a sleeve, they come with the risk that they could be put on backward, leaving all or part of the trigger or its guard exposed. In my case, I find the wrong size holsters inside the bags more often than not because I have a variety of sizes and types of bags, and my accessories get mixed up.
What if you have a laser or another modification? Whatever the case may be, if the holster isn’t a perfect fit for your gun at all times, get one that is. Period.
If you’re upgrading to a Kydex holster fitted for your gun, I found this velcro holster that I wish I knew about when I needed one.
Concealed Carry Crossbody
4. How Will the Handbag be Worn So the Gun Can be Safely Withdrawn?
Learning to draw a gun from a handbag is going to require practice. There’s just no way around it.
As I may have mentioned, when I first got my CCW permit, I was all over the place with concealed carry accessories. Every time I got dressed, I tried a new holster in a different location, trying to find the best fit and what I liked most.
Then I took some formal training. Since then, I carry my gun in the same place on my body every single time. When you think about it, finding yourself in a fight-for-your-life situation is going to be stressful enough. Do you really want to also have to remember where you decided to carry your gun that day?
Find Damsel in Defense Handbags Here
Likewise for carrying a gun in a handbag. How many times a day does a purse get mindlessly repositioned because it’s heavy? What about set down on a counter to grab something out of it? Or passed off to someone else to “hold for a second” while you rearrange the 5 other things in your arms?
Where does your purse go when you load the car? Push a shopping cart? Show a house to a buyer? Try on an outfit? The point is this: if you have practiced accessing your firearm for a variety of scenarios ahead of time, your mind will be freed up to split-second process what your senses are hearing, seeing, and feeling, while your muscle memory helps get your gun on target.
Concealed carry for women: practice, practice, practice.
I have practiced some of the recommended purse positions and have found that, for me, carrying a concealed carry bag as a crossbody purse on my non-dominant side gives me the greatest control. Obviously, every woman is different.
First thing’s first, practice being aware of your surroundings, so you know a threat is even imminent. Preferably, you will have enough time to get out of harm’s way. If not, then this awareness of your environment, also known as situational awareness, can afford you the time to defend yourself:
(Pictured: Multi-Shay Concealed Carry Backpack, worn as a crossbody, utilizing the included shoulder strap.)
Then, practice getting to your gun. Practice it again.
Use an unloaded gun to practice withdrawing from your handbag. You want to be able to get your gun out without taking your eyes off the threat ahead. Keep practicing until you do!
Finally, practice getting on target.
Find Concealed Carry Backpack Here
The Best Concealed Carry Backpack
5. What Level of Bulletproof Protection Does the Handbag Have?
Concealed carry handbags don’t generally come with any amount of protection against oncoming bullets. If you’re looking for that level of armor, separate bulletproof panels can be found. These portable inserts are made to fit inside backpacks, tote bags, briefcases, and laptop bags and can offer various levels of protection.
“Active Shooter” drills became incorporated into my son’s school preparedness plan about the same time bulletproof panels became available to the general public. I originally purchased one for his school backpack, but have since taken it over as an insert for my bag. It gives a little extra peace of mind on road trips, in an airport, or at a sporting event or concert.
(Photo image of Bulletproof Panel)
This insert is rated as level IIIA protection by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Essentially, these are good protection against most handguns, from .22 caliber up to .44 magnum. This particular one fits right inside my concealed carry backpack:
See Bulletproof Backpack Insert Here
Conclusion
This post discussed the crucial questions you need to ask before deciding on a concealed carry handbag. Pictures throughout this post are for demonstration purposes only and are intended to illustrate possible handbag uses, options, and/or techniques that might require practice.
How do you practice carrying your concealed carry handbags?
This post was all about concealed carry handbags.
