IF your gonna PRACTICE ALOT at a Range then..
...
Then I'd say get a semi-auto 9mm, as it is by far, much cheaper, than 357, 40cal, or 45cal ammo.
Second, sure, a 22 is a great learner/beginner of a gun, but with the long waiting period, just like here in Sunny, phony, California, the wait in-between each pistol purchase is 30days. And with restrictions coming right and left, and gun-bans on max forward as well, I would at least start off with the 9mm, as it is easy to learn, cheap to shoot, will DO THE JOB for Home Defence (HD) and Self Defence (SD), as a 22 can, but the shots must be spot-on perfect.
Not sure what magazine restrictions NY has, but here in Komifornia, we're held to 10 round magazines, max loads. So, with one bullet in the chamber, backed up with a 10 round mag, we have 11 shots, first round, and 10 there-after, as quickly as we can load the mags.
As far as which 9mm, that's open to discussion, but, it should also be the gun that feels the BEST naturally in your hand, to pick up and point to aim, along with what cost factor is part of your purchasing "investment".
And I say investment, because you're gonna learn the rules of safety first, then proper procedure, from proper 2-hand grip, thru trigger pull, thru using those sights to hit tight groups in the C enter O f M ass targets (COM), for your pleasure of the sport of shooting but also, for the occasion, and we all hope it never presents itself, but if it does, you'll be ready to send the lead to where it has to go and do the most damage.
A gun, then guns, become life-long friends that you will hold dear, and the investment, both in time and money, will be fullfilling. Count on that.
Good luck, everyone in here is all ears, and we all have one or more of every gun out there, with good stories about them, and bad ones, and with all the knowledge that will flow out to you to absorb, you'll be on the right road to the right choice, that I know.
Luck,
LS