sometimes I wonder about recommending a cheap .22 semi auto pistol. They're so easy to shoot, they're not intimidating, they're cheap to practice with, they're inexpensive firearms, and people can have idiotic arguments all day about stopping power of the .22 but you cannot really argue that it isn't lethal and it's going to stop someone 99% of the time. The biggest thing is feeling comfortable using the firearm and actually hitting your target, and a .22 pistol is going to be the best answer to both of those.