Onthebeach, police and military women are trained in the use of guns.
Aren't we specifically discussing civilian Indian women in this discussion?

I also said I didn't think civilian men should carry guns for personal use either, so I'm not looking for another boring gender argument with you...

Suseonline, "Aren't we specifically discussing civilian Indian women in this discussion?"

How are they different from other women?

'Civilian' women are trained in the use of firearms too. You are talking about a nation that excels in international competition for starters.

The Indian women you deny the right to protect themselves would be properly licensed and trained. They are women of good reputation and character. Did you read this,

"Although work to develop a lighter gun for women began before the Delhi rape, the project was fast-tracked after the crime, which sparked protests nationwide. The 23-year-old was raped, tortured with an iron bar and thrown from a moving bus."

and this,

"The gun's launch has led Indians to debate whether carrying a gun makes a woman safer. Ram Krishna Chaturvedi, the chief of police for Kanpur and several nearby districts, thinks it does.

"It is definitely a good idea. If you have a licensed weapon, it increases your self-confidence and creates fear in the minds of criminals," she says.

Among those wanting to buy Nirbheek is Pratibha Gupta, a housewife and student in Kanpur. She says it is "too expensive" and the process of acquiring a licence is "cumbersome", but she believes that it will be empowering.

"If the person in front of me knows that I have a gun, he will hesitate to touch me, he will know that since she has a gun, she can use it too. The gun will be my supporter, my friend and my strength."

Suseonline,
You have proven for a long time now in many posts that you don't have any logic. Pistols are a great idea they'd do away with a; criminals & b; do away with a lot of wasteful paperwork & c; many incompetent/corrupt magistartes could be by-passed, saving not only a lot of public funding but also regain some law & order.

While this thread may, at best be a trap, from an author who has recently said hand gun laws are, well too controlling.
The thread screams for judicial action in another country.
India bound by its own cultural rope has become a raping culture.
That culture will confront other country,s and maybe the world all too soon.
Based on Bride dowry , many thousands of girl baby's are murdered before birth even after it.
Sons being the parents wish.
A simple fact not enough females exist for every man.
And as seeming lack of true concern for women in a country not long ago burning live wives on their dead husbands fire?
Far more than guns for women are needed in this country with one foot in the 21st century and the other in the dark ages.
Not to disappoint Is Mise and the gun lobby here.
Guns while no answer should be non sexist no difference should be seen.

Well said Belly.
More guns added to an already violent situation just makes for more violence.

India needs stricter laws re violence against women.
At present their poor women are considered mere possessions...

'At present their poor women are considered mere possessions... '

yep exactly just like in the West the secular in the promotion of porn consider women pure sex objects.