I have to disagree with the glock for a first time owner. I own a glock 19 along with many other pistols. If you are looking for something to use as strictly home defense, go buy a cheap Mossberg or Remington 870 12 Gauge shotgun. Their is no better or safer home self defense weapon.
If you are dead set on owning a handgun, please go take some courses on gun safety if you are not familiar with handguns as they are the most dangerous (for yourself) of all weapons. Glocks are Striker fired pistols and are fun, simple, and easy to shoot due to the light trigger pull and simple mechanics. However, they do not have a safety meaning if you have one chambered and the trigger is pulled, it will fire. I would recommend either a revolver, a double action pistol, or a 1911 style Single Action with a safety. Those firearms are inherently more safe due to conventional safeties and/or extremely long trigger pulls. I carry every day, and I carry a 1911 Style Sig with a safety, and I still do not keep one chambered.
A cheap 38 or 357 revolver is hard to beat for first time gun owners. They are simple, you can easily tell when it is loaded, and they have extremely long trigger pulls if the hammer is not cocked. It would make for a solid gun to start with, then once you get comfortable, you can make your way to a Single Action Only or Striker Fired Pistol such as a Glock.
That's my $0.02 on the matter.