"India has launched a new handgun for women, named after a student who was gang-raped in Delhi in December 2012 and later died of her injuries. Officials say it will help women defend themselves, but critics say it's an insult to the victim's memory.

In his large office on Kanpur's Kalpi Road, Abdul Hameed, the general manager of the state-run Indian Ordnance Factory, shows me Nirbheek, the factory's tiniest gun.

"It's small, it's lightweight, it weighs only 500g [1.1lb], and it can easily fit into a lady's purse."

Hameed speaks enthusiastically about the .32-calibre revolver ...."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25727080

No, I don't like it at all.
Just like I wouldn't like men to be armed with personal guns 'just in case' they should come across someone who might want to kill them

While I feel very sorry for women in some countries who don't appear to have any rights at all, I doubt arming them with guns would help.

How easy would it then be for violent men, women and their children to get their hands on these guns then?
Imagine all the innocent people who could be shot dead, merely because the gun owner was frightened, or the gun got into the wrong hands?

Sounds like America all over again...

Ah! The old lay there and enjoy it or 'Think of England' response. (although in this case 'Think of India').
Rape appears to be inevitable so make it easier for the rapist?

Great Idea.

They should announce that over 5 million have been made & supplied to the ladies of India.

Even if not a single lady has one, it will stop a lot of cowardly would rapists before they ever start. Nothing like the fear of the lady possibly being armed, to cool their ardor, & desire for a bit of sport.

Hasbeen and Is Mise, I doubt the rapists will announce they are about to commit rape, giving the women time to get their little guns out and shoot them first, do you?

I would also imagine these women would be fair game for any bloke to overpower and TAKE their guns to use on the woman and/or for other criminal activities?

In any case, the whole idea is silly anyway.
Women in India would be the last people chosen to be given guns in such a poor country with a bad women's rights history.

Suseonline

Your 'logic' would exclude women in the police force or military from any job outside of routine office work.

Maybe you need to harden up Princess and accept that your view of women as simpering, defenceless fragile flowers, was never the case.

Many women do want to protect themselves and their loved ones just as men do. In Australia, women living in the country -and that was all of Australia outside of capital cities- always had guns and regarded them as usual, ordinary tools around the property.

There is no reason why women who can meet the standards of integrity and good character and are appropriately licensed shouldn't be allowed to defend themselves with a firearm. That is what is being proposed - as Suseonline will understand if she reads the linked article (OP).