This article is pure bunk.
Criminals and law abiding gun owners treat guns differently.
Criminals use guns as disposable tools. Their primary considerations are cheap, and concealable. Since they’re illegal, and they must not be spotted with an unregistered handgun, particularly if they already have a record. Thus the preference for small, cheap, disposable handguns. The Makarov is the gun of choice, cheap, reliable, accurate enough, and deadly enough at close range.
Law abiding citizens owning handguns want them for protection. The gun MUST work and be powerful enough and controllable enough to stop a deadly attack. Concealment IS important, but not as important for lawful concealed carry owners, and not an issue at all for those who use the gun only for home protection.
For home defense, a reliable .38 special or .357 loaded with .38 special (no overpenetration and shooting the neighbor) is desired, the gun is easy to use under extreme stress, reliable, and easy to make safe quickly.
For concealed carry, “midsize” autoloaders are both lighter and conceal more easily. Glock, Colt, Sig, Smith and Wesson, various 1911 companies like Kimber and Springfield, CZ etc all make outstanding semi-auto pistols that are relatively flat and light. Most people will not carry because it’s a pain in the ass, expensive to get certified/qualified/licensed, the holster alone will run in excess of $200 and is worth it. You will commit essentially to carrying around 5 lbs of metal and plastic on your hip every day. Some will only carry light/small 5-shot revolvers from Smith and Wesson or Ruger. Pocket revolvers. Hard to shoot, but reliable, definitely lighter and smaller. Expensive though, some will run into the $500 range.
For those at risk however, it can be worth it. Small pocket revolvers require expensive and painful practice, they are hard to shoot and often hurt (recoil being nasty in lightweight revolvers).
I would expect most people who would own guns legally in DC to own affordable .38/.357 revolvers, shoot them infrequently, and use them only in extreme home defense, for example an equalizer for elderly in the attempt of a home invasion.
