Hmm, this is the part where things start to get a bit controversial because, with the gun crowd anyway, there's always at least one shotgun fan who can not be swayed no matter what you say.
But let me emphasize again that I think Mindset, Awareness, Preparation, and Training are more important than what choice of firearms you end up with. So, which to pick, in my personal opinion, is mostly hair-splitting....
That said, here's why people like shotguns:
* They are versatile. If you're out in the country, and you can have only one firearm, you can't go wrong with a shotgun. Not only are they suited for self-defense, but they are also suitable for hunting game.
* They are novice-friendly. I've debated that this is not quite the case, but because shotguns shoot a bunch of pellets, you supposedly do not have to aim as much in order to make a hit.
* They are powerful. In close ranges, no one argues the relative effectiveness of a shot-gun blast.
* Shots are unlikely to over-penetrate. Depending on load. I agree with this, although I contend that it's not the only firearm that has a low likelihood of overpenetration.
Now, here's why I don't like shotguns:
* They have high felt-recoil. Depending on load, the kick can be mitigated, but most people are not used to high felt-recoil. This is one reason why, in practice, most people are not as effective as they believe they are.
* They are heavy and cumbersome. Sure, call me a wimp, but it's true: It's heavy enough to require two hands. To me, that's not ideal when you have to hold the phone to talk to the 911 dispatcher while trying to handle a firearm at the same time. Ever tried to hold a shotgun with one hand?
* They shoot an unpredictable spread. If you are the only person, this may not be a big deal, but in reality, many people have other family members in the house. Do you really want to risk having some of the pellets hit your family members by accident?
* Limited attachments. I'm no "gear queer" (I didn't invent this term), but I am big believer in having lights on your firearm. This in itself is a whole other can of worms, but take my word: Better to have it and not need it than to need it (and end up accidentally mistaking a family member for the perpetrator). For shotguns, rails for attachments are very uncommon.
* Limited range. Do you have a back yard? Is it possible that you may find yourself shooting outdoors? Shotguns are typically good for up to 50 yards. Some argue that's enough, but I personally don't see why anyone would want to settle.... (And no, please don't tell me you've got rifled slugs on your saddle you can change out. You may be trained, but most average people are not, and they won't appreciate the increased felt recoil.
)
Now, here's what I do like:
* For novices, I highly recommend a .357 revolver loaded with .38 specials. If you shop around and insist on it, you can even find one that has a rail to attach a weapon light. The one example that comes to mind is the Smith & Wesson Shield Gun. Highly recommended. On the cheap, Ruger's .38 special revolver is also very good.
Let me add that I wouldn't feel bad about being a "novice". Revolvers are reliable, intuitive, and do not have magazine springs that will weaken. In fact, chances are good that if I were to go back to firearms, I'd also go with a revolver.
* For more advanced folks or folks who don't mind spending a little time and money, I recommend an AR rifle. Any decent upper and lower will do, but I recommend a flat top (I believe it's called an A3 and A4 upper). Mount it with a CQC type sight along with a Back Up Iron Sight (BUIS). Also, be sure to attach a light.
* If you insist on a shotgun, stick with a reputable brand, such as Remington and Mossberg. Please attach a light to it if you can. Pistol sights are also recommended. If you don't mind spending a pretty penny, Vang Comp's shotguns are highly recommend, and they come properly modified and ready to go. Load with bird shots.
Personally, I love ARs. Light recoil. Highly effective. Highly accurate. Low likelihood of over-penetration (using hollow-points will help I think). Plenty of after-market options for lights and sights. Light enough to be handled with one hand so you can use the other to talk to 911 dispatcher, hold your kid's hand and guide them to your designated safe room, or just just operate doors and lights or hold another flashlight so you don't have to muzzle sweep anything just to light things up. Flash suppressor barrel also recommended to redirect muzzle flash... but can't remember if this part is civvie-legal.... But I'm sure your local friendly gun dealer will know. Finally, I argue that they are just as effective in close range as a shotgun, and easily out-performs medium to long ranges (up to 400 yards), in case you find yourself shooting outdoors.
Errrr... maybe I shouldn't be saying all this.... If it causes a problem, I'll delete it later. Or feel free to delete it for me, Mods. Anyways, I recommend going to a local range, rent out these firearms, and give them a try. In the end, you want to stick with one that you are most comfortable with. Better to hit with a mouse gun than to miss with an elephant gun.
Oh, and yes, I recommend to sign up for a basic handgun safety course. If I was somehow made President of Earth tomorrow, I would make this a mandatory requirement for all gun owners.
Mine costed only $50, and it was a fun way to spend a night. If you already know exactly what kind of gun you want, then you can go ahead and buy it, but if not, don't be afraid to hold that off and ask about it when you take your safety class. They'll help steer you in the right direction.
As always, this is just my $0.02 (though in the end, I think you'll find that I'm right about this).