Like some of the others have posted, perhaps she shouldn't be handling a firearm at all until she becomes familiar with properly handling one. Home defense is a serious issue. It is something that everyone should be prepared for, but something no one should hope for. In the unfortunate event of an intruder breaking into your home, alot of people could get hurt, if proper control and weapon choice has not been put into place. IMHO, size 5 shot or something similar is a better choice for home defense than buckshot, especially when you have neighbors close by or other people living in your home.