[Wisconsin]

Well there is something to say for that ...but

1. A tyro with a shotgun will get a hit at close range. Not so with a pistol

2. Regardless of whether it hits, a shotgun will intimidate the hell out of anyone.

3. A light load in a shotgun for reduced kick will be lethal or incapacitating.

Moreover you can easily make non-lethal loads (I know, I was once shot with rock salt when I was a kid).

4. A shotgun, particularly a break action one, is a safer weapon than a handgun.

[Chemist_Geek]

For home defense for new shooters, I like to recommend the Remington 1100 in 20 gauge with an extended magazine. That's only after they've spent a while getting used to long guns with a 10/22, though.

A #3 20 gauge shotshell 7/8 oz load has, approximately, 16 quarter inch diameter pellets headed downrange at about 1200 FPS. It's too late here to do the math, but that's a lot of KE and momentum hitting the Bad Guy.

I don't like the Cult of the 12 Gauge - 20s are just as effective as a 12, and are much easier for more varieties of people to handle effectively.