I just wanted to throw out a few ideas that haven't been covered, one, Massad Ayoob writes some decent books. I'd recommend In the Gravest Extreme as a starter text. I don't agree with all of Mr. Ayoobs teachings, however this book is excellent.
Second, depending on stature, a 20ga shotgun may be a better choice for you. I know all the arguments about a 12ga is bigger etc, but a 20ga is faster for subsequent shots and you can get rounds that are fairly comprable. Just an idea.
Last though, you are roughly 8 hours from arguably one of the best training facilities available to civilians in the US and the world, which is Gunsite. (
www.gunsite.com) Training there is top notch. There are a lot of people who claim to know about something and frequently don't. It's unfortunate and until you have enough knowledge to see through the smoke and mirrors you can get some bum info. A course there would not be the cheapest and it would be quite a drive, but may be worth your while.
One more thing, there is a lot of information and responsibility when it comes to gun ownership, don't get discouraged. Also, as Chris mentioned, everyone has an opinion, think large grain of salt when dealing with people <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />