Many women and men choose to carry a firearm in a bag or purse, but there are some important things to consider when carrying a firearm off the body.

Ladies, you'll be happy to hear you have more options than ever to choose from – budget options to high-quality, high-end purses. You want to think about how that style is going to reflect not only your personal style, but also how you want to carry your firearm. Remember, this piece of fashion has function.

First, it's best to choose a handbag that's designed for concealed carry like this one.

You'll notice it has zippers on both the left and right hand side so you can access it with either hand. This purse also has a holster with Velcro on it so you can place your firearm exactly where you want it in order to access it easily and quickly. 

Now, the only thing that goes in this compartment is your firearm. That's very important. It's why we choose purses that are designed for conceal carry.

For example you don't want to place your firearm in the main compartment because you'll have to dig for it and it can get caught up in things. It's just not going to be fast and easy for you.

With purse carry, consistency is key. And you want to make sure you carry the purse on the same shoulder every single time, so you can access your gun with your firing hand if you need it.

Just like you would practice drawing from a holster, practice drawing from your bag.

You're going to want to secure your purse with your non-dominant hand while you access the gun with your strong hand. This purse style is the most popular and one of my favorites because the zippers are located on the sides where you can get to the gun quickly and safely.

Finally, this last tip is extremely important one. If you choose to carry a purse, it's very important you keep it with you. That means no dumping it in a shopping cart, or hanging it on the back of a chair.  You need to make sure you secure your purse either on your shoulder or in between your feet, where you have access to it and others don't.

Remember these tips when you're caring a purse and guys if you're carrying a backpack or briefcase. The same rules apply.

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