I have a 38 and feel very comfortable with it. I got my permit to carry liscense about 5 years ago. My dh is a truck driver and I like the fact that I can defend myself.
I live in the country and have had to shoot a rabid skunk and a snake. I know how to use a gun and pray I never ever have to use it on a person, but, in this day and age, you just never know.
It would take the police 30 minutes to show up here, and I feel safer with my gun. My shed got broken into about 3 years ago and that really scared me because I was home. Who is to say next time it wouldn't be my house?