i've been considering looking for a little handgun for self-defense since before the election. i have a history with a stalker to begin with - but after reading comments from some crazies (looking at you, 'your body, my choice' guy), now i feel even more inclined to keep a weapon with a few 'emergency' bullets just to protect myself with.

that said, i don't know a whole lot about guns. i haven't fired one since i was a teen, shooting mountain dew bottles off of distant posts with my uncle and his rifle... as hicks do. i don't know how to clean a gun, load it, unload it, set the safety on and off, etcetera.

i want to learn how the weapon works before i buy it for safety's sake, but i also don't want to be patronized or treated as a dumb girl or taken advantage of in terms of pricing. i sort of get that treatment a lot when i walk into auto supply stores to do my own car maintenance and have had older guys remark in surprise when i've popped my hood to check my oil/coolant. i'm not dumb and it's not some big accomplishment for me to do or want to do things that men traditionally do.

do y'all have any ideas for shops or other orgs in the area that would be great for what i'm looking for? i'm also open to suggestions for small, simple weapons without crazy recoil that are simple to maintain and operate. my goal isn't to kill somebody - just to protect and distance myself if ever necessary (god forbid). thanks!