They are popular because they fire reliably and are priced decently - lots of them out there.
Just as with this story, it's hard to determine what made it go off, but I presume that the trigger was actuated.
It's likely it was in her loaded purse w/o a holster and no telling what might have been shifted against the trigger. Loaded with one in the chamber is the way to go, but one mustn't become lackadaisical.
Fired lots of rounds through Glocks and never had one just "go off on its own".
I agree. I appreciate wanting to be protected, but for God’s sake just don’t toss them naked into a bag.
Now she will lose her gun, she needs a new bag, and she scared the crap out of folks.