BTW, this gun idea came to me after a rape in the garage of my workplace. For six months afterward, a big sign was posted by the main elevators, from the security dept, where no one could miss it. Every damn day I read: "ATTENTION. On May 8, a woman was assaulted and raped in the East Garage after work. The assailant has not been caught. For your safety, women should not walk alone to the garage or around the campus, even with another woman. Women should always lock your home and car doors immediately once you're inside. Women are advised not to go out alone after dark. The Security Department will escort you."
Every damn day I imagined all the people who were reading this sign. The rapist was reading it and smirking, "Hah, the pathetic females are locking themselves inside in fear of me!" And my male coworkers were getting the message that I am weak and vulnerable -- can't step outside, poor thing! - and not their equal. And all women were having it pounded into them day after day, that a threat hung over us and we must creep around like mice, trying to avoid it.
So I developed a fantasy of posting a bigger sign over the first one. "ATTENTION. On May 8, a woman was assaulted and raped in the East Garage after work. For your safety, women should obtain a concealed-carry permit and learn to use deadly force. If a threatening person approaches you in the garage or elsewhere, warn him off, and if he doesn't listen, you should shoot to kill."
I think the rapist, my male coworkers, my female coworkers, and myself, would have found that far more empowering.
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