[SmartAZ]

http://www.popgadget.net/images/guarda.jpg

Dutch designers Hein van Dam and Carolien Vlieger are behind the designs of handbags showing the outline of a gun, a crucifix or a knife. Developed in response to media reports of growing fear of crime in their home city of Rotterdam, the "Guardian Angel" bags are being sold to women to protect them from robbers.

LINK (http://www.popgadget.net/2005/01/guardian-angel-bags.html)

One rule of guns is don't draw one unless you plan to use it. If you carry such a bag, you can expect hassles from cops and challenges from thugs.

[Brihard]

Looks like a Walther P99...

Yeah, dumb idea- Holland has some of the world's more restrictive gun laws. Criminals are gonna know this, and they'll know that the bag is a spoof. More importantly, it tells them that the victim is NOT armed at all, and is in fact afraid.

Honestly, I think these bags wil make women targets...

[Brooks]

In this state brandishing is illegal. I don't know if it matters whether there was really a gun or not. If it does matter, then the brandish purse might make more sense.

[Brihard]

No, it doens't- criminals use the itnernet too, and will hear about these soon enough. Besides, have you EVER seen any kind of bag that will outline a gun so clearly and perfectly?

these dutch designers have more money than brains. They're going to get a lot of women hurt.

[Brooks]

Um, well ok. LOL

How about a tape recorder with the sound of a really yappy, PO'd chihuahua in the handbag. Would that be more believably threatening??

[Potemkin]

Did you know there are some states that allow security officer to carry SIMULATED weapons in holders?

These are regular security officers not ones licensed to carry firearms.

Companies allow this because it provides a deterent effect but not the liability of a guard shooting someone.

Security officers willingly do it because it means an extra US$1-2/hr.

Really!

[Hamilton Felix]

Wow, that's something! Well, if I somehow ended up with such a job, you could bet the one they couldn't see would NOT be "simulated." :pirate:

[Seldom Seen]

Are a lot of purses vacuum sealed these days?

[Hamilton Felix]

I don't THINK so, but it may be coming in the near future. ;)

Looking at the image that started all of this, I think it may be an insert. Put it inside your leather bag, and both the obnoxious color and the handgun image will be toned down -- but the pistol will still be recognizable. Stupid idea. Here's a much better one from Oleg Volk.

[The Nameless One]

I was admiring some Airsoft™ Assault Rifle lookalikes at a local gunshow this afternoon. Really the only difference at first glance was the orange tip on the flashhider. This from a distance of less than five feet.

If I wanted to upset people, a little black paint on the orange tip and an Easy Rider Rifle Rack™ in an old pickup, parked in a carefully selected spot for covert observation and/or video taping could yield some material for AFV or ‘Candid Crime Camera.’ :D

Driving with it in traffic would probably prevent road rage, but I'd bet you would be reported at least once a mile in city traffic. :stir: 911 & the local constabulary would come to hate you!

:devil: :devil: :devil:

[Brihard]

Many good airsoft guns are visually accurate to the millimeter, some even simulating the weight. A more limited number of paintball guns look similar enough to fool the casual observer, or even in a few cases someone who isnt holding and looking at the thing.

I'm a paintball player myself, and it's lots of fun, but you constantly have to be careful when you have a paintball gun in your posession. I have some friends who airsoft, and it's even more important for them. More than one person has been shot and killed by police because they had an airsoft on their person and made a stupid move at the wrong time.

[Hamilton Felix]

And don't even get me started on the stupid movies that encourage kids to drive around and "paint" people. Trust me, if you try a paintball "drive-by" on pedestrians, and I'm one of those pedestrians, you will NOT like the balls that come back as soon as I see a barrel come out of the car window! I know that millions of decent paintballers despise the few asses who try to give all a bad name.