(Trolls: Off topic or offensive remarks will be deleted. If you don't like it, GET YOUR OWN BLOG)
Atheling2, get rid of Piss, ...er, Chris. He's a parasite.
You go, girl! I've packed heat for over 20 years. I do a lot of driving by myself and would never travel alone without protection. I'm glad you're taking classes because it's very important for you to know what you are doing if you're going to handle weapons. A 38 will work just fine. Blessings!
I am glad that you have made the decision. Do yourself a favor - get to a range and arrange for a safety class as well as a session shooting different firearms. You may find that shooting a different gun is more comfortable. Plus it is an enjoyable evening out - - shooting at some targets. The guys or gals at the range will have some good advice. I was lucky enough to know a gunsmith when I thought about purchasing my first handgun over 20 years ago. He and his wife took me to the range and I was able to shoot several different guns and get a safety class. My first gun was a Ruger .357 Magnum. I still have it and it is still my favorite gun. (Although I prefer to shoot .38s out of it.)
Go Girl! Don't listen to the pissers of the world. Listen to me and Gayle!! 
Thanks girls!
I don't know a thing about guns, but I'm learning. .357 Magnum? Is that what Dirty Harry used? I wanted something light - some of the guns I held seemed to heavy and awkward, but I think I'll take more classes and try different guns. A friend of mine wants to get a shotgun - now that's way out of my league, but I think it wouldn't hurt to learn how to use one either.
LOL! Yep, Dirty Harry used a 357 Magnum.
I use a 45, which is heavier than a 38, but I like it just fine. I also have three rifles and an antique 6 shooter that I inherited, but it still fires well and is a very dangerous weapon. I live in the country and it takes the sheriff quite a while to get out here, so my husband and I don't leave anything to chance.
I like what you did to that comment! Way to go!
By the way, I need to link you. I have you in "Bookmarks" intending to get you linked and never got around to it. I shall go do it now! Blessings.
Thanks, Gayle!
I think I will join the local Gunman's Club - I think it will be educational - plus I can use the shooting range when I want.
I'm looking forward to the classes and becoming more proficient. Maybe in the future I'll invest in a heavier piece, but the .38 will do fine for me right now. I like that it travels well and can fit in my purse. I'll have to get a Concealed Permit for that.
See you later!
BTW, I urge you to do the same with the comments if the Pisshead graces your blog with his trash.
Don't you worry, I will either edit him or get rid of him.
The one you addressed on my blog has been harrassing both Old Soldier and myself for months. We just delete his comments whenever we see him. We've both banned him, but he has access to several pc's. H'es probably a college student, and they do have access to a lot of pc's. At any rate, he's disgusting and we don't even read his comments. I've asked my readers to not bother to respond to him because as soon as I see him, he's gone, then their comments will seem out of context.
By the way, I finally got you linked! 
Oh, I forgot to mention that Chris has graced my blog several times. LOL! They really think it bothers us. They are really brain dead!
Oh yes, that little worm PISS seems to make the rounds.
Anyway... why all the discrimination against shotguns?
I have never shot a handgun. They seem too small. But you point a SHOTGUN at someone and you get their attention. My favorite is a 5 shot semi-automatic 16 gauge. It's not as accurate for skeet shooting, which we do in Ohio when I am there, but it would get the job done if a prowler came around. The 20 gauge is fine for birds, and the 12 gauge has WAY too much kick.
And as for the racoons--- I would shoot them too. I planted seeds for my fall garden and the little bastards came and dug the pots up.
Gayle,
Oh I banned that one a while ago and he never came back. And thanks for the link!
Mike,
I'm not prejudiced against shotguns at all. But I feel awkward with them, and I wanted something that could travel with me if I am driving alone on a dark and lonely road. There are not only bad guys here, like everywhere, but there's wildlife, and that's dangerouse wildlife: coyotes, cougar, bear, raccoons...
I would like to learn to use a shotgun (btw, what's the diff between a shotgun and a rifle?) and they are good for home protection, but it seems too big to handle for me. Maybe I'll grow into it.
Guns make me pee my pants.
Good for you!
I have had guns for years and funny how my brothers and I are still with us!
They were always loaded in our home!
We would never think of taking them to school!
We got several trophies!
You wanna go shooting sometime? 
Um lets start with Chris!
Hey, dcat, when I'm more proficient we'll have to meet up and go shooting! Sounds great!
Rifles shoot a single bullet. They typically have more narrow, but heavy barrels.
A shotgun has either one, or two barrels and the shells are larger and loaded with shot, much like BB's but smaller.
Oh, I see, thanks Mike!
FWIW, Dirty Harry used a .44 Magnum. At the time, it was the biggest caliber handgun there was. That's no longer the case. As Gayle mentioned, the .357 has the advantage of also being able to shoot .38. Less kick and cheaper ammo.
The corollary for the .44 Mag. is the .44 Special.
The .45 is very nice. Remember that it was designed specifically to make drugged-up Moros in the Philippines stay shot. I have both a .45, which I love to death (Norinco: Chinese copy of 1911) and a .357 plus two 9mms. I also have enough other "items" to make Christine do more than just pee his pants.
12 ga. shotgun kick does take some getting used to, especially with slugs, but looking down the business end of that is likely to make goblins think about another line of work.
If you decide on a revolver, get the .357. Then practice mostly with .38 with some .357 thrown in to get accustomed to the increased recoil.
Best of luck, and welcome to the club.
Thanks, irish19!
Wow, you are loaded! I'll have to go back and take a look at some .357s now!
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