Off-body carry, like caliber wars, is one of the topics gun folks like to argue about. Proponents say that it offers an excellent option for carrying a gun when you aren’t dressed for it, while detractors claim it is a sure way to lose your weapon or, at the very least, not have it available when you need it. As with most debates, there is a degree of truth on both sides. As with most things related to carrying a gun, it is wise to fully understand something before rejecting or committing to it.

Defining Off-Body Carry

Off-body carry means carrying your handgun in a purse, fanny pack, backpack, or sling bag rather than a holster. Any other method, such as IWB or OWB holsters, an ankle holster, shoulder holster, belly band, or in your pocket, is on-body carry. 

Off-Body Carry Pros

Off-body carry is a viable option for women wearing dresses, anyone who is not wearing a belt, people in workout clothes, and people in light or form-fitting summer clothes. It can also be useful if you are very active and there is a danger of your gun no longer being adequately concealed. Off-body carry also has several other advantages.

Convenience and Comfort

There is no question that off-body carry is more comfortable than using a holster. There is no discomfort because the grip or barrel digs into some portion of your anatomy or the holster pinches you when seated. It is especially nice on hot, humid days. It is also convenient. Just put your gun in your bag and go. There is no fiddling around to get your IWB holster situated just right or an ankle holster tightened so that it stays put without cutting off your circulation.

Great Concealment

With your gun security zipped into a bag, there is no way anyone will see it because it is printing or your clothes shifted. Nobody will see your gun unless you open your bag and show it to them.

More Economical Than a Good Holster(s)

With on-body carry, you must adjust your carry options to suit the season, how you are dressed, or what sorts ofactivities you will be engaged in. When wearing shorts and a tank top, I usually carry a smaller gun than when I’m dressed in a larger shirt or wearing a jacket. Naturally, I have a holster specifically designed for each gun, and they all cost money. For someone who is carrying off-body in a bag or purse, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is or what they will be doing because they do not need to change guns to suit the way they are dressed. Although some people may have multiple bags or purses designed for concealed carry, a single bag or purse could suffice because you are always carrying the same gun.

Easier to Carry Larger Guns

This one is a biggie, no pun intended. When carrying on-body, you are often limited in the size of the gun you carry by clothing constraints or what is comfortable. A full-size gun is bulky and heavy. But that doesn’t matter with off-body carry. My wife swears by her Beretta 92, but since she rarely wears anything but pants and a tank top, there is no way she could carry it concealed in a holster. By putting her gun in her bag, she can carry her favorite.

You Can Learn to Draw Quickly

This one goes both ways, and you will see the speed of draw in the cons section too. That is because there are potentially more steps to drawing from a bag or purse than a holster:

1. You must ensure the bag is in the right position to access the pocket and gun.
2. The pocket containing the gun must be opened before you can reach into it.
3. You must get a good grip on your gun and draw it.

However, with some experimentation on positioning your bag and practice drawing from it, you can develop a fast draw from a bag, especially if it is well-designed with the gun in an easy-to-reach position. But it does take practice.

Unexpected Carry Place/Tactical Advantage

Some potential assailants may not expect their intended victim to carry a gun in a bag, especially if the target is male. This can potentially give you a small advantage in reaction time before the bad guy realizes what is happening. It may seem like a stretch, but in an iffy situation, you could even put your hand into the bag to hold your gun, allowing you to shoot through it if necessary. I have never tried this myself, but it is definitely not an option if your gun is in a holster.

Off-Body Carry Cons

We cannot discuss the benefits of off-body carry without also talking about the disadvantages. And there are some disadvantages.

Cannot Put It Down

The biggest problem is that you must have one hundred percent control and accountability of your bag at all times. You cannot set it down on a counter, leave it in a restaurant booth, or put it in a shopping cart while you look for something on the shelf. You must keep that bag on your person at all times, or you risk forgetting it or having it snatched with your gun in it. Period. Anything else is irresponsible and could end in a stolen gun or worse.

Purses and Bags are Targets

Purses and bags are targets for thieves. Even if you are carrying it at all times, it can still get snatched. A well-practiced thief will be very good at snatching a bag off someone’s lap or shoulder and getting away. This is particularly problematic in public transit or crowded places. Even having the bag draped across your body isn’t foolproof. When I was working in international security, a female client was walking down the street in Saigon, Vietnam, with her bag over her shoulder when two thieves on a motorbike came along. One of the guys simply hooked his arm through the strap as they went by to snatch the bag. Since she had it across her body, she was dragged several feet, but the strap eventually broke, and the thieves got away with their prize. Fortunately, she was not seriously injured, but you see my point.

Potentially Slower Draw

As I mentioned above, there are more steps to drawing from a bag than from a holster. Unless you practice long and hard, you will probably draw more slowly from a bag than from a holster.

Greater Danger of a Negligent Discharge

Once you put your gun into a quality holster that protects the trigger, it is safe. That gun will not fire unless you pull the trigger or do something careless, like failing to clear the trigger guard of a foreign object like a lanyard or shirttail when holstering it. The same cannot be said of carrying your gun in a purse or other type of bag. Specially designed concealed carry bags with a built-in holster will alleviate the problem for the most part, but just throwing your gun in a purse or gym bag is risky and foolish. Far more NDs occur with off-body carry than with holsters. There is also the issue of someone, especially a child, getting into a bag or purse and finding the gun with tragic results.

Accidental Brandishing

In some states, allowing your concealed weapon to be seen is considered brandishing or a violation of open carry laws. Even in places without draconian gun laws, having a non-gun person see your gun could cause alarm and create difficulties. Carrying a gun in a purse or bag opens up the possibility of someone seeing it when you open your bag to get your wallet or keys, another reason for the gun to be in a pocket by itself.

Methods and Options

I am not going to go into depth on the various off-body carry methods, as there are plenty of articles available that cover them. Women carrying their guns in their purses is by far the most common off-body carry method, but backpacks, sling bags, and fanny packs are also used. I do not recommend using the so-called concealed carry planners that look like a leather organizer, as they are far too easy to set down and forget or lose control over. Whatever method you choose, be sure the pack, purse, or bag holds the gun securely and in the correct orientation for a fast draw. Never just throw a gun into a purse or pack where it can bounce around or become entangled with other objects.

Precautions

If you decide off-body carry is for you, along with all the usual appropriate safe gun handling practices, there are two primary considerations. These are the positioning of the gun in whatever kind of bag you are using and the need to keep track of the bag and your gun.

Positioning the Gun

This relates to the way your gun is kept in place when it is in the bag. Every so often, we read an account of someone who simply threw their gun into their purse, pack, or gym bag with predictably unfortunate results. Just as when carrying a gun in a holster, it is critical that the gun be firmly retained in a safe orientation and that the trigger be protected so some foreign object in the bag cannot set it off. Bags made specifically for concealed carry have a holster built into them, but if you prefer a particular bag not designed for concealed carry, it is a relatively simple process to secure a holster in the compartment where your gun will go. Nothing else should be in the same compartment as your gun. That includes keys, a brush, or even something as harmless as a pack of gum. If nothing else is in there, nothingcan get caught in the trigger guard.

Keep Track of Your Bag

The other major concern is keeping track of your purse or bag. I cringe when I see a woman leave her purse in the child seat of a shopping cart. Whether she has a gun in it or not, it is an inviting target for a quick thief to grab and run. The same goes for a visit to your favorite Chinese buffet; do not leave your purse/bag in the booth when going to refill your plate with potstickers. The best practice if you are carrying off-body is to always keep the bag physically with you. That way, it is never unsupervised, and you can’t forget it somewhere.

Conclusion

Off-body carry is a viable method of carrying a concealed handgun. I practically never use it myself, but my wife has carried her gun in a shoulder bag for about 12 years with no mishaps or problems, and she is not unique. For every story you read about a gun going off in a purse, there are hundreds of people carrying their guns off-body with no problems. But, as with carrying a gun by any method, it must be done with care and forethought to avoid a negative outcome.