Off body holstering without revealing?

[Divided Attention]

Today I had an interesting and new to me situation. I was attending a conference at a facility that is ALWAYS no carry - school district property. I had chosen to take my 9MM in my holster purse and leave the weapon locked in the lockbox in my car during the conference. I had a friend from work riding with me that doesn't know I carry and I have NEVER discussed weapons/shooting with at all.

When we arrived at the conference I had no problem locking my lockbox where my weapon was stowed while reaching for my purse, putting up shades etc. However, when we had an unexpected off campus lunch, I couldn't come up with a way to put my 9 in my purse. I kept thinking if I had my IWB or my 380 I coulda slipped it in on the sly. I felt like I had forgotten something the whole meal as my side arm was in the car.

I discussed this with MAR when I got home - his suggestion was to leave the weapon holstered in my purse and leave my purse in the car. While this is an option, the heat is not great for lip balm in my purse, and leaving my purse behind is not a comfy feeling in some places. Then too, my purse would not be "locked" up. I have places I can stow it out of sight, but still not locked...again not comfy.

Those of you that have been at this a lot longer - do you have any suggestions? I will be in this similar situation at least once more this summer, and many times in the future, as I hang out at schools A LOT!

Thanks in advance!
DA

[RPB]

I use a Wilderness Safepacker sometimes... see video on about 4 ways to carry.
The front pocket flap is big enough for a billfold etc, I've carried a spare .380 and 2 mags in the flap pocket where the main part held my Taurus 9mm and spare mag.


It may or may not work for your purposes, but I use mine a couple times as month, when IWB won't be convenient


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[Hoi Polloi]

Put the safe in the trunk area and park with the trunk pointing away from the building. You can go get your lightweight jacket (which happens to conveniently be in the trunk) for going into the air conditioning and then put it up in the trunk when you come out while you get your gun. Say you're going to get your jacket out of the trunk while the passenger is otherwise occupied and you're already halfway there in a way which says the person need not follow as you'll be back before it is worth their trouble. Or you can always "forget" your jacket half-way through the parking lot, but then you risk an attendant hanging on your every word walking back with you or offers to use theirs or something harder to navigate.

You can also make an excuse about not wanting to carry around your heavy purse, pull the pocketbook with the chapstick out and just carry that while locking the purse in the trunk.

[Pawpaw]

Could you tell your friend you need to make a quick phone call and suggest she go ahead and get a table. That would give you a minute or two to re-holster.

To keep it more honest, you could even make a quick call to check your work or home voice mail.

[Divided Attention]

Great ideas! Alas, I drive a mommymobile that is trunkless. In future, I will be sure to have my 380, which I have gotten very good at holstering on the sly! It is small enough I can palm it behind my purse in my lap and slip it in my IWB very easily - not with my elastic belly band, but the hybrid holster is a cinch.

I thought about just saying I forgot my phone or something and going back for it, I just was totally at a loss today. I like the safepacker, but it just won't fit in my lockbox.

I guess the best answer is to convert all my friends and coworkers to be members of "polite society", then we can all have our own lock boxes!

[VMI77]

I use the "I forgot my cell phone" or "I need to make a quick private call" excuse.

[USA1]

I just say "Leme grab muh gun real quick".

...It's nice not having to hide anything.

[SewTexas]

I like USA's method! I'm typically with my best friend and she knows I carry and will carry soon herself
Seriously, I like the idea of carrying a smaller gun if you need to holster on the sly.

[gwtrikenut]

How about this? Tell your friend to get her CHL. No muss, no fuss. Problem solved.

[troglodyte]

I'm afraid I would fall in with the last couple of comments. But that certainly may not work for you and that is perfectly understandable.

Would there be a way of stowing the gun in a "wallet". Not knowing what kind of purse or the size maybe you could carry a bag in your purse large enough to stow your gun in and make the transfer in your purse. Then you're just locking up a bag with "personals". I'm thinking of the little zippered ditty bags or surely there is something more fashionable.

Not much of a thought but maybe it will lead to something better.