It is a mistake to say "shoot to kill," It should be "shoot to stop" and that means center body mass which may well result in death, but semantics are important.
You don't want some sleazy lawyer getting a hold of statements you made that suggest your intention was "to kill."
As far as handguns for a novice, you can't beat the simplicity of a revolver in at least .38 caliber.
As far as level of gun security, again, one has to balance accessibility with security, there is no one size fits all solution.
In any case, a new gun owner should seek training to learn how to handle a firearm and also to learn the local laws involving the use of such.
Many things come into play.
If you reload and use those rounds for self defense instead of factory ammo, that sleazy lawyer may make the claim that you are negligent because you intentionally made your ammo especially destructive.
Becoming a gun owner is a serious decision that deserves a high level of commitment to know what the hell you are doing.
