about the gun issue:
if I had a gun in my hand, I would be a much higher threat to an attacker, therefore more likely to be shot at. in Germany we don't need to fear guns (!), the worst things that could happen can be dealt with by some self-defense skills, that are easy to learn. or you can just use pepper spray. the unlikelyhood of people having a gun is making the whole country more relaxed, you could say. no fucking fear of guns.
also, by tendency, a people that is constantly subjected to violent media, often corrupted or unreliable institutions (police, education, healthcare), and psychosocial stress (read above) on a personal level, will create a lot of violent crimes regardless. access to guns in this environment will, by tendency, result in more lethal outcomes. by that I don't say guns should always be abolished, but statistically speaking, in a society like the US, it's simply naive to think you're more safe when everybody has a gun.
I'd rather talk to my neighbors and avoid being a woman ... :X
on a more serious note: a female acquaintance of mine was violently kidnapped and raped after her late shift by a shy man in the same house, while her boyfriend was asleep -- a gun wouldn't have helped her. she is now doing self-defense and sword fighting so she can always protect her body at least.
