ARTICLE:A recent Gallup Poll survey found the number of women who own a firearm has nearly doubled from 2005 to 2011, taking them from being just 13% of the nation's gun buyers to 23%. Many of these women report buying a gun as a means of self defense, with concealed weapons a very likely probability. Interestingly, and perhaps a contributing factor, is although gun homicides has gone down significantly--almost 50%--since 1993, women were more likely to say they think gun violence has gone up (65%). The media spotlighting of violent rapes and assaults like the one at Steubenville, or the Ariel Castro kidnappings, could also have contributed to this desire to feel better protected. The further gender diversifying of gun ownership has some interesting meanings and possibilities. All speculation here, but with more guns in more women's hands, there may be a change the national dialogue about gun ownership (and the traditionally masculine nature of guns: women don't like them because they are loud, violent, scary), it could have notable effects on the outcome of self defense or assault cases, the number of women killed by firearms (right now, it's quite low; however it's worth noting that women who do live in a household with a gun are three times more likely to be killed by a gun), even the rate of suicide by gunfire--which is traditionally much higher for men and non-existant for women--could change. Only time will tell what the impact will be, but depending on the handling, the impact could be profound.
SITE: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-act-violence/201311/ladies-and-their-guns
