imported post
It has been my experience that women are generally easier to teach and better "natural shots" than men, especially when they are first starting out.
My sister, my friend in Fairfax VA, and my stepdaughter are all VERY good shots, and have been since the first time they picked up a firearm.
My theory is that little girls don't get "conditioned" with the "recoil flinch" like little boys to, because generally, little girls don't watch gun-related movies as much, and don't play "cops and robbers" or whatever when they are little.
Without the "recoil flinch" programmed into their heads, young women have a much more naturally steady hand and more stable and secure grip, and so they tend to shoot straighter...
As for the OP, I concur with the other posts--get your sister to a shop or a range that rents pistols, and let her "try a few on". The "fit in hand" of a handgun is CRITICAL to effective use. If a gun is too big to too small, it will be that much more difficult to hold, aim, and control.
I don't know your sister, and what size handgun she could handle comfortably, but most women I know seem to prefer small-frame 9mm or .40's, or else small .38s like a Ladysmith or Taurus 85. A .38 special revolver with a set of nice cushy after-market grips is simple, reliable, easy to clean, and relatively easy to shoot. Plus, from the BG's point of view, the "business end" of a .38 revolver can be VERY persuasive, as there is NO DOUBT what they are looking at...:shock:
Then once you narrow it down fit-wise to a few models, she needs to go to a range with a qualified instructor--preferably another female, and preferable NOT a relative. Men learn from their buddies, but women learn better (in general) from "anonymous authorities"--someone they aren't connected to, but that they feel comfortable with.
Good luck! I think it's great she wants to carry. I wish I could get my stepdaughters to consider carrying, but they live in MD, so it's really not an option for them. One lives in Baltimore City, and I really worry about her. The other daughter is married and has a new baby, and although she lives in a relatively posh part of MD, her husband works long hours, and she's often at home alone with the baby. I pray for their safety every day.