NORTHBROOK, Ill. – June 27, 2023 – PRLog — Ashley McGee authored an article in a recent issue of “Shooting Industry” magazine, where she explores the concept of off-body carry education for women, specifically in regard to purses and backpacks. She goes right to the source for information pertaining to off-body carry, and that is the president of Gun Tote’n Mamas (aka, GTM Original), Claudia Chisholm. She also interviews two influential female firearms instructors.
Gun Tote’n Mamas has been offering a manual with each purse or bag sold for years. It includes this valuable information, in regard to drawing from a Gun Tote’n Mamas’ product: “Before you insert, carry or draw a loaded handgun from your GTM purse, ‘dry practice’ with an unloaded gun in a safe location and with the gun pointed in a safe direction until you can safely, comfortably, and reliably open the gun compartment and draw the handgun from it. Be sure to keep your finger outside the trigger guard and keep the gun pointed in a safe direction while practicing.”
It’s one thing to read this directive regarding safe handling of a firearm; it’s another thing to actually put the handling into practice while using an off-body purse or bag.
Enter the world of instruction, specifically aimed toward firearms instructors and gun-owners who wish to carry in this fashion. McGee includes firearms instructors Vicki Farnam and Christa Forrester in the article.
She writes, “Inspired by ongoing conversations with Claudia Chisholm, president of GTM Original, Farnam began offering a Fundamentals in Off-Body Carry & Protection course for NRA- or USCCA-certified instructors in the fall of 2019. Since then, around 40 instructors have completed the course at either Farnam’s home base in Colorado or at various locations throughout the U.S.”
Farnam and her husband, John, run Defense Training International, and between them, offer a wide-range of firearms courses and instructor training.
Farnam said, “Anyone interested in finding the right bag for off-body carry for themselves will have a wide selection from GTM Original. Styles, designs, colors, sizes and functionality features are numerous! There is something to appeal to many different individuals! But just as significant is the fact that Claudia Chisholm of GTM Original thought it of the greatest importance that customers and users of these holster bags could find information on the proper use and safety considerations, which are so very important. Information on proper use is important.”
The second firearms instructor, Forrester, is the owner and lead instructor at Confident Carry Firearms Instruction, CCFI Confident.
She said, “In my personal training courses, it is like most other things: students don’t know what they don’t know. So many firearms owners don’t realize they should get general education and training, let alone defensive training and specialized training, like off-body carry. We have seen a great response be given to a mini-intro to off-body carry and safety concepts at the close of a new shooter class, and then offering options for them to sign up for the next level of training as the full course.”
Forrester continued, “Something else we are noticing is most women are wanting the Off-Body Carry Safety and Concepts course as a private or small group with family and friends course.”
Forrester also serves as vice president at Shoot Like A Girl and Safe LivinG, which travel the country with a simulation shooting trailer and mobile classroom, respectively, to educate the public about all things firearms and safety. She said, “We have the opportunity to do something similar by giving quick introductory education that off-body carry is more than just a firearm and handbag, that understanding how to safely off-body carry is critical and that choosing the right handbag is a part of that safety. Since we are only seed planting and introducing, we encourage them to seek further training by finding an instructor near them.”
Find your next concealed-carry purse or bag from the fine line of Gun Tote’n Mamas’ items.
About Gun Tote’n Mamas
Gun Tote’n Mamas – Serious for Women’s Protection
Gun Tote’n Mamas is an affordable line of leather purses and handbags, inspired and developed by women. Our parent company, Kingport Industries LLC, is 100% American-women owned and operated since 2002 – celebrating 21 years of supplying the best! Every one of our products has been tested by USCCA and NRA instructors to elite training facilities, including CSI, FBI and Navy SEALS. We respect feedback from citizens who are consumers and concealed carriers. We want to hear it all – we are not afraid of criticism and HIGHLY encourage your feedback. It is comments from the field that will continue to make these bags the best for the jobs they are designed to do. Visit Gun Tote’n Mama’s online.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
