RE: Self Defense handgun help.
Another to check out is th PPK, it's a nice small 9mm. One of my daughters was a sherriff deputy in Texas for a while, she didn't patrol, just worked in the office at the jail, but she was required to carry and qualify. She has pretty small hands and she liked my S&w model 39 semi auto. I think they still make a version of it now, but I'm not sure. With the personal defense ammo available now, I wouldn't feel under gunned at all with a 9mm. I keep a .380 with federal premium personal defense rounds for a home defense weapon.