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 sometimes wonder how things would be if women were the taller, more physically strong sex.

@unlimiteddilutingjuice

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

This. It would be dreadful. Female victims of DV would be shot. They'd be coerced into getting the gun. Men would steal the guns from their female partners.

The perpetrators of violent crime would know that women had guns and would target them to steal the gun. Unless the woman is actually prepared to shoot someone (unlikely as this is real life, not an action film) they will be more likely to be victims of crime, not less.

I can't think of a more idiotic proposal.

You'd first have to define 'biological female'... (because I can guarantee someone would try to prove it doesn't mean what you think it means).

It would increase the general level of gun carrying (just try enforcing guns for women and not men) and this would increase the overall level of violence in society. Compare UK to US murder rates.

'I sometimes wonder how things would be if women were the taller, more physically strong sex.'

This is an interesting thing to consider. There's really no way to know. And a host of factors (disease, lack of food etc) could have driven things in one way or the other.

I think it's safe to say that men would not be in charge etc.

The options on a basic level are.

Women and men swap. Women are as men (as a group) have been.

There's a totally new and different way of doing things.

In general i think that both women and men carry out a lot of hierarchical behaviour but over different things. The things women compete over boil down to living in a capitalist, patriarchal society though. As do men's tbf.

I suspect that the idea of lovely communal living with sisterhood etc is unlikely. More likely if the group is under threat maybe? Pulling together etc.

In the end it's impossible to know.

I often wonder what sport would look like though!

@Apileofballyhoo

I sometimes wonder how things would be if women were the taller, more physically strong sex.

In some species of animal, females are larger. It would be an interesting study to see how that affects the dynamic.

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

Viper gleeking would be an outstanding super power.

I agree with everyone else. Step 1 would be every man "identifying" as female to get his own gun, and those who couldn't bear to demean themselves in that way would steal or coerce guns away from women. Women and children would be shot in their homes, and women would have guns taken from them and used against them during stranger attacks.

I look at the state of gun crime in the US, the number of children murdered every day just going to school, and it makes me feel sick. I'm sorry if this offends anyone but as long as people are allowed to carry guns I don't even want to visit America. If it became legal in the UK I would move, immediately.

I can also second (or fifth) The Power, very interesting exploration of a world where women suddenly become the stronger sex.

Perhaps, hypothetically, if the technology existed to somehow "code" guns to women? So the trigger doesn't work unless it is pulled by someone female.
Otherwise we'd get mugged FOR the gun!
Maybe it would be better if they weren't guns, but small tasers, that only worked when operated by a woman.

That would shake things up a bit. You may still get men attacking women, but less so. You'd probably get women intervening in fights to defend men, "it's alright Steve I've got my taser!" That would be an interesting dynamic.
Would be awkward to take jogging etc though....
And if I got attacked when jogging without my taser/gun, would I be blamed for it? "Well she was asking for it leaving her house without her taser..." etc.
I can see it being another way to victim blame women who were carrying but for whatever reason couldn't bring themselves to use it, or who froze etc.

Men who did attack would do so with far less warning and more violence (a punch to the back of the head etc).

• Perhaps, hypothetically, if the technology existed to somehow "code" guns to women? So the trigger doesn't work unless it is pulled by someone female. Otherwise we'd get mugged FOR the gun! Maybe it would be better if they weren't guns, but small tasers, that only worked when operated by a woman.*

Biometrically encoded phasers on stun is what we need for this thought experiment. (With the advantage that as they don't exist men can't pretend they think we mean it seriously and tediously squeal their objections like with the curfew idea)

Women are easily overpowered by men. And weapons stored at home are easily taken by other residents.

I think it would lead to a lot more gun crime

I don't think society would change other than an amplification of the current state. Availability of guns leads to more violence and more deaths.

A better idea would be for all women to be trained in the harshest and most dangerous of martial arts. My DD is going to learn Krav Maga when she's old enough.

Another vote for The Power - brilliant book

We have legally held guns at home ( UK). I would never use them for protection whilst in public,even if it was legal to do so. Accurate shooting isn't as easy as people think,and a stressed and frightened person handling a deadly weapon isn't going to end well. I had an idea of how I'd react if someone ever assaulted me, but when it actually happened,I froze in shock. Physically,I'm very strong,but I would easily have been disarmed by my attacker.

The only thing to do is to encourage a change of how society and the authorities view VAWG

and for men who commit these crimes to be pursued and prosecuted etc

@HippopotumArse
Yes - This thread made me think of The Power!