Gun culture, once largely associated with men, appears to be crossing gender lines, with the Bathinda police registering separate cases against two women within a month for allegedly brandishing firearms in social media reels.The first case was registered on January 7 under Section 223 of the BNS for violating a District Magistrate’s ban on public display of weapons. A second similar case was registered on February 1.Police records show that the trend is mainly driven by the youth. Last year, 24 persons—all young men—were arrested in 17 cases for flaunting firearms on social media platforms.Deputy Superintendent of Police Sarabjit Singh said displaying weapons in reels or posts was strictly prohibited. “Those indulging in brandishing weapons, including revolvers, pistols or other firearms, should refrain immediately or be prepared to face legal action,” he said.Punjab has nearly 3.5 lakh licensed firearm holders, with around 30,000 in Bathinda district alone. While the state accounts for about 2 per cent of the country’s population, it holds nearly 10 per cent of India’s licensed firearms.Several Punjabi songs are seen as promoting gun culture. Rights activists have called for strict action against such content, blaming it for encouraging the trend. They also point to multiple incidents in which people have lost their lives due to celebratory firing, which is banned.According to a Home Department order, songs glorifying weapons and violence are to be banned. However, such content continues to be widely available on social media platforms.