How would society change if women were allowed to carry firearms?

[cheeseismydownfall]

Hypothetical question - I'm not advocating for this. But I think it is an interesting idea to explore. How would society change if biological females were legally permitted to carry firearms as a means of redressing the physical power imbalance between men and women?

How would men's behaviour change, in the knowledge that every woman they interact with could theoretically overpower them, even if she chose not to wield that power?

How would women's behaviour change - would it remain an option of last resort, or would women slowly morph into the aggressors?

I think women would be then used by men to carry a firearm that they could use themselves when they fancy.

I think most women would hesitate to shoot... and that hesitation would be used against them, to disarm them, and ultimately we would end up with even more dead women.

There are so many illicit firearms in circulation, I can't see it making a difference.

For all A.N.Other predatory male knows, the woman he's after might have an illegal gun on her person. It wouldn't stop them.

Leaving that aside, I don't think I could shoot a man at point blank range, or at least by the time I realised I could and should, it would probably be too late.

Which is not to say that all men would shoot without hesitating, and it's only women who would be reluctant... but that as women have the guns it's only the men willing to use them who would attack women.

Hope that makes sense. The vast majority of the men I know wouldn't be able to shoot anyone either.

They would be killed by their own weapons as happens when people carry knives. Read The Power by Naomi Alderman for an exploration of this theme though.

Not a good idea. Would they be able to pull it out in time during a surprise attack ? - I doubt it unless properly trained.

I really don't think society needs more firearms (look at america)

There would be a lot more deaths and injuries

Is there less violence against women in US states which are "open carry"?

How would women store their firearms safely at home? most violence against women is in the home by partners... they'd have access to them. Plus the big risk of children in the home accidentally firing them, many fatalities of children in the US this way.

'There are so many illicit firearms in circulation, I can't see it making a difference.

For all A.N.Other predatory male knows, the woman he's after might have an illegal gun on her person. It wouldn't stop them.'

????!!!???

Where on earth do you live?!

In practice the man can overpower the woman get the gun, I think that's the experience in USA

Oh god no
I don't even carry a handbag most of the time as I don't want to be mugged for it let alone men thinking I'd have something as valuable as a gun

The Power by Naomi Alderman explores this idea, women develop a power that enables them to emit an electric charge that they can control the strength of.

Oops, sorry, just seen that Chimoia has already mentioned The Power.

Where on earth do you live?!

There are 500 gun crimes a year where I live, and that's just the ones that are reported.

Very valid responses, thank you. You are quite right that in reality it would not improve women's safety, and would probably have the opposite effect.

I suppose I was thinking more hypothetically, if NO men carried guns and All women did, and had been taught to use them. How would that knowledge change the dynamic between men and women? The Power book looks interesting, thank you.

I can really recommend a book called 'The Power' by Naomi Alderman.

I suppose I was thinking more hypothetically, if NO men carried guns and All women did

This is so hypothetical it's almost impossible to answer because in any real life situation, the guns issued to women would very quickly find their way into male hands.

The problem with carrying a firearm is that it can fall into the wrong hands. If a woman was overpowered the gun could be taken off them. Gangs would love to get hold of guns so women could become a target in that sense

Are you on the UK?

I would think it very unusual for a criminal in the UK to thing a potential female victim might have an illegal firearm on her!

It's just been the Dunblane anniversary, so I'm going to decline to comment.

A lot more dead women, a lot more women in prison and a lot more violence.

If we are talking hypothetically, I propose stress-activated venomous spit glands.

As long as we feel safe, all is good. If we feel threatened, our spittle goes toxic to other humans. A nettle sting for mild peril, up to death within 5 seconds if we are in genuine fear for our lives.

Seems like we'd get a lot less "women are just over-reacting, the rules change all the time, how can men be expected to anticipate what's ok" and a lot more "am I 100% sure this woman is going to be ok about what I'm about to do?"

I'm from the US...more guns is a VERY.BAD.IDEA.

The mother of the monster who gunned down 20 children and 6 school staff in Sandy Hook, Connecticut was first killed by her son using the guns she bought to protect herself.

Please, don't copy us.

everytownresearch.org/report/gun-violence-in-america/



I can't plead enough- guns are not the answer.

More women would commit suicide by gun shot.
More children would accidentally kill themselves playing with guns.

Ah ok delphinium that makes sense.

Don't worry we won't copy you.

The rest of the world more or less views the USA gun laws as bonkers.