I like to shoot and therefore I have had a lot of lady's ask me what gun should they get for self-defense.
I ask are they going to go out and practice with it and get good at shooting and keep practicing regularly or are they going to buy it and stick it in the closet for when the bad-guys show up.
If the answer is "set it on the shelf and forget it" - my answer is always - Get a shotgun. It shoots lots of projectiles, makes a lot of noise when you take it off the shelf and cock it, and you don't have to know how to aim - Just point it in the right direction. That big hole in the end of the gun looks even bigger when it is pointing at you.
Not the answer that they want, but if you are not going to take the time to get comfortable and familiar with a gun, then it is more of a danger to you than having nothing. You would be better with a baseball bat next to the bed.