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[–] 2716057 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
For gun safety:
There's a number of ways to go about this. First, and foremost, you need to learn the four core values of gun safety. Beyond that, there's a TON of online safety instruction you can read, as the gun community is absolutely focused on safety... Unlike what most media will have you believe.
You can also find what your state/city/county requires as far as a concealed carry permit. Nearly every single residency requires some level of formal training, which you can take even if you're not looking for a concealed carry. Many of these cost money, but if you want some formal training...
Then there's hunting training. They go over safety as well, but they're more geared towards regulations for hunters... But a little extra safety is never a bad thing. These also tend to cost money, so unless you're planning on hunting, it may not be what you're looking for.
Then there's your uber-tactical training... People go on run-n-guns, they practice drills in the desert/forest, and they do draw-drills. This isn't technically bad, but it's probably more than you need, and it's a lot of "tactical" stuff most people will never need (IMHO, as an ex-military, ex-ops guy).
There's a lot of homework you can do to stay safe, and if you bring more specific questions, we'll be more than happy to answer them.
For weapon choice :
You're going to have to just test around. I like to suggest to people that they go to their local range and test things out before they buy anything. You're going to have to make the decision on if you want (not an all-inclusive list):
Personally, I prefer a striker fired (DAO) S&W Shield in either 9mm or 40S&W. It's a single stack with no safety, and it's reliable. I like DAO, striker fired weapons without safeties because I can count on every trigger pull to be exactly the same as the last. There's no difference between the first and the second draws, and I know exactly what to expect every time. This is important to me, since in the heat of a duress situation, you may not remember that the net trigger pull will be lighter on a S/DA, or to turn your safety off, or that you need to rack the slide on a SAO weapon... There's already so much going on, and you're already under extreme stress, one wrong mistake will render your weapon useless.
But, again, this is all up to the owner (you) to decide if that's what you want from a weapon or not...