The advice you have received is good. A weapon you expect to need for protection is not much good if you must load it before you use it. I do use the safety. If your gun is single action (must be cocked to fire), the safety is not a big deal but many semi-automatic handguns with a chambered round only require a trigger pull to fire, so the safety is appropriate imo.

I have never fired a weapon at anyone, nor have I ever brandished a weapon to frighten or deter anyone. I have never accidently discharged a weapon. They are very dangerous and I treat them accordingly.

After there were children in the house I became very paranoid about the revolver I owned at the time, so much so, I took the cylinder out and kept it in a different room from the frame. It remained that way for many years.

I now own 4 handguns and they are loaded and ready to fire but I keep them in a small gun safe in my bedroom. This would be a big problem if I needed a gun suddenly but with any warning I can get at them in less than 30 seconds and having them out of reach of those who could be harmed is well worth the risk.

I agree that, as long as our society is intact, weapons should not be carried for protection outside the home.

If you are thinking of home protection you should consider a shotgun. Very little training needed. Learn safety protocol, point and shoot, and it is deadly protection.

If you are set on a hand gun, shop for a 38 cal revolver. They are fairly light, don't recoil much, fairly inexpensive, and will always fire if the barrel isn't plugged. They do not require frequent cleaning. Foe a semi-automatic check out the Kel-Tec P-3AT .380. It is extremely light with a nice trigger pull. It is inexpensive and while it requires more maintenance than a revolver, it is simple and reliable for a semi-auto