Ladies' figures are usually quite different from mens'. Generally, the hips are wider than the waist. A high-ride, forward cant holster that is comfortable and concealable on a man will frequently cause irritation to a lady because the butt of the handgun is thrust into the rib-cage area.
For the ladies, I usually suggest a holster with minimal cant, which lowers the gun butt and keeps it away from the ribs. This seems to work best for OWB carry at the 3:00 to 4:00 position. For IWB, several ladies have reported good results with a zero-cant IWB holster worn at the appendix position, about 1:00 to 2:00. With a small handgun this is actually quite comfortable, and can be easily concealed with nothing more than an untucked blouse or sweater.
Wardrobe selection can be a significant issue for many women, as they tend to want outfits flattering to the figure. This makes concealed carry difficult for some ladies.
There are purses made specifically for concealed carry, but I share your concerns over handgun control issues. Many ladies get into the habit of leaving their purses on a table, on a car seat, in a shopping cart, etc. My opinion is that when a person chooses to be armed there is a great responsibility to control access to the weapon.
Let me know if I can help. Click on my username to display e-mail address.
