"Nirbheek," India's first gun for women, was launched on Jan. 6. The revolver, manufactured by the Indian Ordnance Factory, means "fearless" and is named after "Nirbhaya," the victim of India's most publicized gang rape case.
#Nirbheek, India's first gun for women - Made by IOF, it weighs 500g & costs Rs 1,22,360 http://t.co/MtkgW58f86
Dipankar
@deep_anchor
#Nirbheek, India's first gun for women - Made by IOF, it weighs 500g & costs Rs 1,22,360 http://t.co/MtkgW58f86
According to media reports, the gun is meant for women to defend themselves from sexual advances.
It is the smallest revolver made in India and is reportedly ideal to fit in a purse or a small handbag, the Times of India reported.
Priced at nearly $2,000 (Rs 1,22,360), the gun was described as the Indian hybrid of a Webley & Scott and a Smith & Wesson. It is a .32 bore light weight revolver, weighing a pound.
Nearly 80% of the 80 formal inquiries and over 20 bookings are from women, Abdul Hameed, the general manager of IOF, told the Times of India.
In order to make the gun more appealing and attractive to its target clientele, it will come in special boxes lined with velvet, according to the company.
Going by initial Twitter reactions, most Indian women were not too thrilled about the Nirbheek. Here are some of the problems they had with it:
1. Men could misuse the gun to propagate more sexual violence against women.
A gun for Indian women that will probably be bought by men and used on women. http://t.co/iw8N7qqdDZ
Sonia Faleiro
@soniafaleiro
A gun for Indian women that will probably be bought by men and used on women. http://t.co/iw8N7qqdDZ
2. The crassness of naming the gun after the Delhi gang rape victim.
Naming a weapon after a victim of violence is just crass. "India makes a gun for women as gender crime reports rise" http://t.co/fAQxr3p7Hf
Nita Bhalla
@nitabhalla
Naming a weapon after a victim of violence is just crass. "India makes a gun for women as gender crime reports rise" http://t.co/fAQxr3p7Hf
3. Firearms are not the solution to keeping India's women safe.
Nirbheek- India's first firearm designed for women. Am I the only one who thinks firearms are not the solution? http://t.co/7HpdEIi8UM (1/3)
Zarina Screwvala
@zarinamehta
Nirbheek- India's first firearm designed for women. Am I the only one who thinks firearms are not the solution? http://t.co/7HpdEIi8UM (1/3)
Ridiculous. Instead of changing sexual behaviour, spreading #arms: Nirbheek, #India's 1st #gun for women http://t.co/35zO2nMyIa
nisha
@nishaONnisaa
Ridiculous. Instead of changing sexual behaviour, spreading #arms: Nirbheek, #India's 1st #gun for women http://t.co/35zO2nMyIa
India launches its first gun for women. Is that the best that the country can do to keep its women safe?
Anahita Mukherji
@Newspaperwalli
India launches its first gun for women. Is that the best that the country can do to keep its women safe?
4. The gun is unaffordable for many.
If I could afford a gun worth 1 lakh, I wouldn't be travelling alone at night in a bus, rickshaw or auto in Delhi http://t.co/L8g681F0rh
Ira Swasti
@irratica
If I could afford a gun worth 1 lakh, I wouldn't be travelling alone at night in a bus, rickshaw or auto in Delhi http://t.co/L8g681F0rh
5. The sexist design of the gun.
"Nirbheek, India's first gun for women is packaged in velvet to make it more attractive." Sure, this will stop rape. http://t.co/o37VKoWb2m
Ketaki
@KetakiBhoj
"Nirbheek, India's first gun for women is packaged in velvet to make it more attractive." Sure, this will stop rape. http://t.co/o37VKoWb2m
Now a gun for Indian women. With a velvet lined case. But it's not pink. And has no crystals. How will I ever use it? http://t.co/Fe1fvG7OmJ
culdivsac
@culdivsac
Now a gun for Indian women. With a velvet lined case. But it's not pink. And has no crystals. How will I ever use it? http://t.co/Fe1fvG7OmJ
http://t.co/IABT96xauM Nirbheek, India's first gun for women - velvet cased to boot. Hope it comes in pink, with poms and gota. Ugh.
Ragini Singh
@Rag1ni
http://t.co/IABT96xauM Nirbheek, India's first gun for women - velvet cased to boot. Hope it comes in pink, with poms and gota. Ugh.
#women faced with threat of #violence r now 'target clientele' that may like velvet boxes. what's next? pink grenades?http://t.co/hphXPBeoiw
Nitasha Kaul
@NitashaKaul
#women faced with threat of #violence r now 'target clientele' that may like velvet boxes. what's next? pink grenades?http://t.co/hphXPBeoiw
6. Weapons for self-defense could perpetuate gun violence like that in the US.
Guns or pepper-spray no solutions for gender violence! It's systemic violence! Birth of a gun-lobby US style? http://t.co/QAlWP93e5z
Whose ridiculous idea is this Nirbheek,India's first gun for women? You want women to start shooting in self-defence? http://t.co/iufnzt64NU
Pallavi Kamat
@Pallavisms
Whose ridiculous idea is this Nirbheek,India's first gun for women? You want women to start shooting in self-defence? http://t.co/iufnzt64NU
7. The gun discriminates against women.
Mildly insulted that a new gun was manufactured 'specially' for women. Show us the big guns. #India http://t.co/i3YY5L2bGi
Karishma Mehta
@Karishma_Mehta5
Mildly insulted that a new gun was manufactured 'specially' for women. Show us the big guns. #India http://t.co/i3YY5L2bGi