I understand this ticket relates to allowing civilian females to use weapons & vehicles.
But I would suggest that the more important feature request is adding female civilian models. Presently a much needed feature.
The debate regarding whether female civilians can be equipped with weapons is secondary and in fact a non issue - if male civilians can be equipped with weapons so will the female civilian counterpart - obviously at the discretion of the missions maker.
Female civilians would make most missions much more believable - irrespective of whether they carry weapons or not.
It's only by taking the weapon (non) discussion out of the equation that this feature request will remain on point and not get hijacked by the sexist/misfit brigade as per the female soldiers ticket.