There is a lot of confusion about this among people who are not educated on gun laws. It is perfectly legal to buy guns online. In fact, I buy most of my guns online. You can usually get better prices and it beats hitting a crowded gun show or over-priced retail store. Purchasing guns online usually DOES NOT require the buyer to pay sales tax. However, when a purchase is made online, you cannot have it shipped directly to your home. Whoever is selling guns online should have a Federal Firearms License which permits them to do so. Shipping directly to a consumer would violate the rules their FFL agreement.

 So you're going to buy a gun online and cannot ship it to your house, what next? The seller will ship the gun to an FFL holder of your choice. This usually means somewhere close to your location as you will have to drive there, fill out some paperwork and pick it up. This is called an FFL transfer. Most gun shops, pawn shops, and Army surplus stores will do them for a fee between $25-$50. Anything over $50 is highway robbery. You will usually have to arrange this yourself by calling a local FFL holder and telling them what you are trying to do. They will be required to send their FFL to the seller. Once that happens, the seller will "transfer" the gun your FFL. An FFL transfer requires the following:

1. A standard ATF Form 4473
2. Government issued photo ID
3. Background check using NICS

The whole process usually takes anywhere from 10-30 minutes. The majority of the time is usually waiting for the background check to come in. If you have a common name (ex. John Smith) I suggest providing your social security number to eliminate mistaken identity. If you do not do so, the NCIS may return a disqualification or conditional approval.

 In the state of Florida, concealed weapons permit holder can take handguns home the same day. If not, there is a 5 day waiting period. There is never a wait on long guns such as rifles or shotguns. Some states require permits or licenses to be obtained before the actual purchase of such firearm. Check your local or state laws before purchasing.

Going back to saving money, high end guns will usually cost more money in sales tax than an FFL transfer fee. Combine that with an already lower online price and you just saved yourself some money to spend on ammo! Remember, you cannot buy any NFA items (machine guns, silencers, etc) without following the standard NFA rules.

Glocks are fairly new to the gun scene.  They first showed up in the in the 1980's and became popular among law enforcement.  They are still in use by many government agencies.  They are boast simplicity, reliability, and value.  They are modestly priced with a retail sticker around $600 for base models.

They are very popular among civilians for self defense and concealed carry.  Glocks have a very simple design which is often criticized because they do not have a manual safety.  Glocks are designed with the safety built into the trigger.  It is designed to discharge only when pulled naturally.

Glocks are produced in various models based on size and caliber.  The most popular model is the Glock 19 which is a compact 9mm.  The model number does not seem to have any rhyme or relation to the size or caliber. 

Popular Models:

Glock 21 = full size .45 ACP
Glock 22 = full size .40 S&W
Glock 17 = full size 9mm

Glock 38 = compact .45 ACP
Glock 23 = compact .40 S&W
Glock 19 = compact 9mm

Glock 30 = subcompact .45 ACP
Glock 27 = subcompact .40 S&W
Glock 26 = subcompact 9mm

Other models are produced in 10mm, .380, .357, and the Glock proprietary .45 GAP.  Certain models are marked with a C at the end.  For example, a Glock 21C is a standard Glock 21 with a ported barrel and slide which aids in reducing recoil and thereby making the weapon easier to shoot.  Glocks are great firearms with tons of accessories.  The magazines are fairly cheap and several other firearms are designed to use Glock magazines.

Generations

At the time of this article Glock's most current model is generation 4.  Previous versions being older and every generation has brought some much needed improvement over previous generations.  Generation 1 models are often sought after by collectors.

Generation 4 guns have gone through some controversy regarding their reliability.  I personally picked up Glock 19gen4 and experienced the same problems as many others.  Various reliability issues were present with 9mm models.  Glock eventually "voluntarily" issued replacement recoil springs to fix the problem. I have personally seen and heard requests for Generation 3 over Generation 4. After breaking in my generation 4 I have had no problems with it.

Many people decide they want or need a gun and only have the budget to purchase one gun.  There are a lot of choices out there, so how does someone choose their one and only gun?  Most people will ask friends who have guns, others will go into a retail store and be "sold" a gun.  The smart people will read articles like this which give you good insight on choosing one.

The first thing to figure out is a budget. How much are you willing to spend on a gun that could potential save your life?  Now that doesn't mean you need to go out and buy the most expensive gun because you value your life.  Most gun owners never have to use their weapons for self defense.  I never have, and hopefully never will.  The point I'm trying to make is not to buy the cheapest gun, but don't go overboard either.  You don't need the $900 H&K when the $600 Glock will do the same thing.  High end guns are bought by gun enthusiasts and collectors.

Miltary and police both use mid-level priced guns: Glocks and Berettas.  The simplicity and reliability make Glocks are great choice.  Nearly every gun dealer carries them, they are easy to shoot, and easy to clean.  Here is are some things you should consider:

1. Size (model)
2. Caliber

Glock makes several of various size.  Full size, compact, and sub-compact.  The sub-compact are the smallest of the models and may not be easy to shoot for those with small hands.  You can find more information about Glock models here.

The Smith & Wesson M&P is also a great choice for single firearm. Hand guns from Ruger are often overlooked as good choices but are solid firearms. Springfield XD models are very similar to Glocks are have gained a cult-following among concealed carry owners. Purpose-built concealed guns like the Ruger LCP is a terrble choice. It's too small to shoot comfortably and is very hard to shoot accurately past 10 yards. It shoots a .380 caliber which is a somewhat smaller version of a 9mm but still fairly expensive in retrospect.

I always suggest 9mm because it's an effective self-defense caliber. Also, it's much cheaper to shoot than .40 or .45 calibers.  If you can only buy one gun, a Glock 19 is my personal favorite.  It's a good size that shoot well, yet still small enough carry concealed if it's possible to obtain a carry permit in your state.