So could a lot of non-lethal weapons. I'm not against guns but I'd rather have my wife packing a taser or pepper spray. There's always the chance your weapon will be turned against you.
I agree, but I would think it's more about what the attacker would fear most that would keep them away.
I think almost every female hiker carries pepper spray nowadays, and the attackers know this, but they also know they can take their chance because it's not lethal. If they get unlucky, they can still run away with a temporary consequence. But guns? That's a pretty strong deterrent, and we have the right to defend ourselves.