You know, I was just checkin and I can buy new for just a lil more money...!
I highly recommend a revolver for a beginning shooter for a number of reasons: No safety to fumble with, simple and intuitive to use, can fire a wide variety of slugs without jamming, very reliable overall. While a revolver *usually* only hold six rounds, it is so reliable that you can count on those six shots; with a semi-auto pistol, jamming is more of a possibility. Visit some gun shows — great deals can be had on used Smith & Wesson revolvers. Buy a model that offers both single and double action triggers. Buy either a .357 magnum (also shoots milder .38 Special for practice) or a .44 magnum (also shoots milder .44 Special, which is what I prefer most).