Yes, I also highly recommend that as a first handgun. However, I still do not recommend using it for carry, AT ALL!!!! And actually, I need to correct a point. In my opinion, you ARE NOT better off with that .22 than without if some crack head comes up. More than likely, all he's gonna want is your money. If that is the case, do you know what you are going to do??? You are going to give him your money. I don't care if you are carrying Dirty Harry's 44 magnum, you give him your money and let him walk away. If you pull out your .22 and point it at him, he is a lot less stable than you are. Also that bullet isn't going to do anything to him, nor will 20 more. You are much better off giving him what he wants. If that is achieved, more than likely he will just take off and no one got killed. Remember what I said....LAST RESORT!!! Do you know the exact moment when you are supposed to point and pull that trigger?? Can you honestly answer that?? It's very important that you know that.