My daughter carries a .32 semi-automatic. The slide must be pulled back to load and cock the weapon (too heavy for a toddler) and the safety must be thumbed off. All can be done within two seconds but the weapon is perfectly safe around a young child without the strength to pull back the slide.
There is a hard line between ready to roll and careless. This poor woman crossed it and paid the ultimate price.
I’ve carried cocked and locked for ages with both 1911s and Hi Powers, but if the weapon is set down, unless at the range, it gets cleared.
The idea of a loose, unholstered, loaded weapon in a purse or gym bag makes me shudder. I’ll be curious to see what type of weapon it was. My bet is on something cheap like a Jennings.