May I recommend the 9-millimeter from Kahr Arms, in stainless steel? The 40-caliber is a bit more powerful, but you may sacrifice availability of an extra round due to the slightly larger size of the ammunition.
What no battle rifle? Every civilized person should at least have a .40 handgun (Glock 27 is compact and holds 11 shots), a .308 battle rifle (FN-FAL) and a scoped snipers rifle (Remington 700). Some body armor and night vision are not a bad idea either.
Recommended reading for gun newbies:
However, our civilization is spiralling out of control towards its own destruction. Whether this is the Biblical end time, it appears to be the end time of what we fondly call Western Civilization. Barbarians are at the gates and the center can not hold unless G-d decides on another Great Awakening. He may, but we have squandered 2 so I don't know why He would waste His time on a third.
With all that we know on the brink, I may need to be armed to defend my neighborhood or town. To that end, I'm not looking at a weapon of self-defense, but a weapon of war. What form that may be I have not yet decided as I have not yet decided to pursue this thought beyond rambling on Free Republic. But that may change sooner than I like to think.
Shalom.