Welcome to the Forums, as others have said, the biggest issue may be getting the purchase permit. But Im not here to talk about that, Im here to talk about DA/SA and SAO. Sig Sauer, Beretta, H&K are some of the best known and most talked about DA/SA guns, I shoot and carry a sig p229 which is a a really nice gun. The draw back to DA/SA especially for someone a bit newer, could be training with the long heavy pull of the trigger for shot one fallowed by a short easy shot 2. I also will carry my Glock 19, this is the gun I recommend for alot of people wanting to get into it. It teaches basic rule 1 so well, keep the finger off the trigger, no external manual safeties to confuse the new, and relatively inexpensive to get into and should you decide you want something different or its not for you, you can get rid of a glock as easy as you got it!
Now.....once your a bit more comfortable, even after say....going to the range and renting some guns. Thats when I would talk the 1911 .45ACP!
Its a sweet old American workhorse of a gun, Tom Hanks even stopped a Nazi tank with one
If you really start to enjoy shooting, and you will because its a blast, at some point you will end up with a 1911. You cant call yourself a gun guy....er...Girl if you have not owned a 1911.
Tim