with her handbag. our cnn's jeanne moos has the tale of this most unusual hero. >> reporter: ginger littleton is holding it close. waving it victoriously. pulling mundane things like tissue out of it. this is more than a purse. >> this is the weapon. >> reporter: a hand me down that ginger tried to use on the hand of a gunman. >> he points the gun at my head and says, you stupid [ bleep ]. >> reporter: she says she agree also with the stupid part. self-defense experts call what she tried to do both stupid and dangerous. still, she's getting the hero treatment. >> girlfriend, you are something! >> reporter: and so is her bag. >> shall i do my vana. >> we're going to put some bricks in it for her. >> reporter: when the gunman ordered all of the women out of the school board meeting -- >> you may leave, you may leave. >> reporter: ginger waited about 30 seconds in a hallway before creeping back and -- >> hitting him with her purse. >> used her purse.