My wife grew up hunting and around guns, but had never used a handgun and had never thought of using a gun in self defense until we had break-ins in our neighborhood and had photo's from a game camera of people checking out our home.  As such, she took a beginning handgun course for women offered by the NRA, and has continued by getting her concealed handgun permit and taking NRA self defense courses for in and outside the home.  While most will vilify the NRA, they are mainly an education organization and offer plenty of classes on using a gun safely.  I would suggest anyone interested try one of the courses.