Why purse carry is not good

[Labhunter]

My wife has always wanted to do purse carry. After discussing my concerns about it, we compromised on an ankle holster. Now she is sold that purse carry is not good. Today in Kansas City, a woman's purse was snatched and the gun inside the purse fired.

www.kansascity.com | 06/13/2008 | One grazed as bullets whiz out of woman’s purse at KC Health Department

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[JD]

That makes two bad incidents due to purse carry in a matter of days.

[TOF]

Your lead in is a bit misleading although probably not intended to be.

The following copied from the web link given does not indicate it to be a purse snatching as in theft.

"A gun inside a woman’s purse accidentally discharged inside the lobby of the Kansas City Health Department office this morning, grazing another woman in the thigh.

The shooting occurred about 9:25 a.m. on the first floor of the building at 2400 Troost Avenue.

Police said the victim was conducting business at a window along the counter when a second woman approached the window next to her. As the second woman set her purse on the counter, a gun inside the purse fired.

A man with the second woman grabbed the purse and ran outside. As he did, the gun went off again. Police don’t know where that bullet ended up. The second woman also fled.

Police were still looking for the couple and investigating what laws or ordinances they may have broken.

Paramedics examined the victim, who declined further medical treatment for a superficial wound, police said. Six people were in the lobby at the time of the shooting, police said.

Officials closed customer service at the Health Department for more than two hours but reopened it about noon.

“The safety of residents and staff at city facilities is our top priority,” said City Manager Wayne A. Cauthen. “We want to assure residents that we continually work to maximize security and minimize any risk to their safety and well-being.”

A notice on the building’s front door says that weapons are prohibited."

[retsupt99]

No holster...

[gg12]

I would be shocked and awed if the woman in TOF's post possessed a legal CCW permit.

I will continue to purse carry when I see the need, it is very safe when done correctly.

[Phillep Harding]

Now, how on earth did it go off the second time?

[kazzaerexys]

Now, how on earth did it go off the second time?

Because whatever caught in the trigger guard in the first place was still there when the guy tried to haul the "evil purse" outside. What an idiot---afraid that the gun was somehow going to go off again with the purse just sitting there on the counter, he had to grab and run with it...which discharged it again.



Or, I suppose, he was just trying to haul and not get caught and just never thought about the fact that the gun could go off again. Sounds like shot number two is definitely criminal negligence, no matter what they charge on the first one.

[digitalexplr]

Wonder what make/model gun was in the purse.

[goawayfarm]

Uh Oh! I see a Glock bashing thread approaching.....

[Tom G]

The purse is a bad idea. Thats the first thing the bad guy is going to go for. Once the BG has control of the gun you are screwed. There is always the possibility that some one will see the gun while she is digging through it for a check book or keys. If her purse were taken and the gun was carried she would still have a surprise in store for the BG

[ppkheat]

My wife uses a purse designed for CCW. The gun can only be accessed from a zippered end that pretty much is a storage area in the center of the purse. She carries a S&W 642 and nothing else is in that storage area at all other than her gun.

Purse carry is not my first choice for her, I suppose it's sort of a compromise between us though. My wife is an Administrator and works in a very "safe" workplace. Her job requires her to wear business-dress clothing. I can assure you she will not wear a belly band, smartcarry, IWB, or anything else like that. Without a purse carry option she would just leave the gun in the car all the time. Don't get me wrong I'm not necessarily a purse-carry advocate, but if the person is diligent in managing their purse, I think it is a viable option for those who are responsible.

[Natureboypkr]

Wonder what make/model gun was in the purse.

lmao

[Labhunter]

TOF,

You are right. I should have called it a purse grab instead of a purse snatch. My apologies.

[Detroittwister]

Purse designed for CC should be no problem, or a proper holster for the weapon inside the purse should be no problem. Its sounds like there is more to this than meets the eye.

[Freakdaddy]

Troost Ave. in KC, MO is not a place you stop to get gas in the evening or want your car to break down at. Knowing this area fairly well, I feel pretty safe in saying that she wasn't licensed to carry concealed. I also fell pretty confident in my assumption that this gun wasn't "legally" obtained. This isn't an upscale doctor's office but a free health care clinic so this gives you a little idea of the cliental. Chances are they either weren't supposed to be in posession of a firearm or had warrants out for their arrest which would explain the man grabbing the purse and running like a banshee.

As far as purse carry goes, although not the best method for obvious reasons, if done properly is not unsafe. By this I mean haveing a purse designed for concealed carry. I'd much rather see my wife do it this way and have it readily available as opposed to it being in the car or at home as she's still not too hip on carrying on her body. We're working on that though. Babysteps I keep telling myself...babysteps.