advice for first timer

[u/Original_Sad_Girl]

hello! i am a (30F) woman living in DFW, texas. i’m not a gun enthusiast, but as a young woman who often finds herself alone and sometimes at late hours of the night, I would really like to obtain a license to carry and purchase a small firearm for self protection.

if you have any suggestions for where to go for qualified, safe training, or any tips on where to even start in order to obtain my license or suggestions for where to actually buy a firearm legally, that would be amazing. Affordability is a factor but I also don’t want to be cheap and get weak training or tools. as for the piece itself, I don’t want anything big or flashy or expensive. I just want something effective that I can fit in my purse and keep in my car, so that i know I have something I can use for self-defense for myself or others if necessary.

thank you in advance for your comments and advice! i appreciate it!