After stating and participating in the "Dog Defense" thread, I have come to the conclusion I should get a handgun "and all that goes with it." This thread is to discuss what should go along with acquiring a handgun.

I have owned rifles and shotguns, but never a handgun. I have fired a few handguns, but none recently. I was never interested in handguns enough to pay them much attention. So this is new business for me.

My favorite brother is in law enforcement and I will lean on his experience pretty heavily. I a going to pay attention to what you guys recommend, too.

My expectation is some study of handguns, and enlisting my brother's advice through purchase and beyond. I hope to try several calibers of handguns at the shooting range.

After that I hope to have are extremely narrow range of candidates.

I understand there is a tiny possibility I can get some combat arms / close quarter’s combat training through my brother.

Gun, cleaning supplies, ammunition, trigger lock, and ?