[ExSoldier]

Speaking as an NRA certified firearms instructor and a former US Army Officer I cannot stress enough the importance of training by a certified instructor. Then you have to practice like you're going to do it for real...as in TACTICAL training. So I would suggest the first organization you join AFTER you join the NRA is going to be the International Defensive Pistol Association or IDPA. These folks train for street confrontations and the courses of fire are very realistic; forcing you to take cover and retain control of all your magazines on the reloads...because unlike the "gamesmanship" of other shooting organizations where it's ok to run from point to point and drop your mags on the ground...in the REAL world; that will cost you your life.

Now, please answer a few questions: Do you want just a home defense gun? If so you can't beat a 12 ga shotgun. PERIOD. If you're going to secure a lawful concealed weapons permit and carry it on your person, it depends on your body type and the size of your hands as to how comfortable you're going to be with the various available firearms. Also important, especially for a novice is going to be your weather. If it's hot and muggy like it is where I am in South Florida; do you really want to have to wear a photographer's vest everywhere you go? Or a sport jacket? You could opt for the belly bag, but that's an incredibly slow draw and especially under life and death stress, could prove fatal for you.

As a general rule, the .22 makes a great weapon to use for an assassination by a pro hitter. The MOSSAD uses them to eliminate terrorists and other unsavory enemies. But they shoot them thru the EYE, twice! The rule of thumb is to buy the largest caliber you can shoot accurately and safely and comfortably. A .22 magnum may approach the same velocity as a .38sp, but lacking a similar cross sectional density of the actual projectile, it has none of the so called "stopping power" of the larger round. And as has been mentioned here, the .38 ain't such great shakes either. Just remember: Accuracy, power and speed is what wins hostile confrontations. That and a good tactical mindset. What does all this mean? TRAINING AND PRACTICE!!!

When I teach a class, I usually let the student use a variety of guns that I own of various types and calibers. Invariably, ONE of them will leap out as THE ONE...just like King Arthur and Excaliber! So it shall be with you and for that reason so as to avoid inappropriate influence, I don't recommend specific makes of guns.

[elbucko]

As a longtime member of the NRA and an ex-soldier, I can't second ExSoldier's admonition to GET SOME TRAINING enough. I recently sat on a jury where a mother of 2 and grandmother of 2 was convicted of assault with a firearm, a felony, with a minimum of 6 mos. in jail. She brought a loaded firearm into a domestic dispute where the firearm was unwarranted. As you can guess, someone was shot (not fataly) and Granny went to jail. The popular maxim that it is better to be judged by 12 than carried by six must carry the caveat that 6 of those 12 are going to be EXTREMELY IGNORANT about firearms, or hate you for having one. "You have got to be carefully taught". The best Rule No. 1 from my late father, about all firearms was to treat them as if they were loaded, period. There are no exceptios. Even if you knew it was "empty", it was still loaded and to be treated as loaded. The only time a firearm was unloaded, was when it was apart. No exceptions. Safe shooting.