Arming people is the wrong approach. India's problem for centuries has been to ignore the problem of rape in their country with very little punishment doled out to rapists. This needs to change with stronger legislation and sentencing. One of the problems is attitudes to women and this is slowly changing and still needs work via education.

While there is some attraction to the idea under the awful circumstances women find themselves in India, bringing in universal gun ownership will only result in the same problems that are occurring in the United States.

The Indian Constitution confers on women the same rights as it does on men and one of those rights is the possession of arms for self defence.

If some of you see a trap in the OP then don't fall into it!

Dowry, bye the way, is illegal in India.

It is all very right for western feminists to root for more State control and presumably higher punishments as well, but where police on the spot such as Ram Krishna Chaturvedi, the chief of police for Kanpur and districts, sees deterrent value in the new invention then one has to sit up and listen.

The new pistol has been designed expressly for women. It fills a gap in the market. It overcomes unintentional discrimination, one could observe. It is low cost compared with others and doubtless trials have shown that women can handle it effectively.

The new women's pistol is far more bang than business. A .22Mag would be superior. That fact alone underlines the strong focus on deterrence, not killing.

It gives women confidence to go out and the ability to stand back or be up close and make some real noise with a hint of bite to deter attackers. That is the real point of it and that is what is not being understood by smug western feminists who are comfy in their middle class suburbs, making up rules at a distance for other women to live by, or more likely die by.

Who is making up rules for India? I thought we were just giving opinions.

However I see this topic hasn't stopped privileged Conservative white people from pushing a gun agenda and using the situation in India to their cause.

While I disagree with the premise that guns are the answer, on a positive note, at least the topic wasn't met with the usual - she deserved it - rhetoric or the why are men always portrayed in a bad light that sometimes ensues. So thank you for that at least.

Pelican,

If guns are not the answer then what is the answer?

Be your self Susionline, that is your right always, ignore the insults.
Indy you disappoint me, well in truth you should consider your words.
I think we must consider if this thread is showing concern for India's women [by the way Dowry's are huge and still paid] or is it a further attempt to support an extremist and minority view on gun ownership.
Law must prevent these rapes and punish those guilty.
As my efforts are mainstream and I will never call for street justice it is best I leave this thread
I however leave this thought can any one say a gun would stop rape, or could it be taken and used to kill the victim.
See posters in a thread that allows other views