Is a 1911 a bad idea as a first handgun?

Not a bad idea, just a more demanding one. The 1911 has arguably the best trigger in the handgun world and points beautifully, but it asks more of you: a real manual of arms (thumb safety, grip safety), lower capacity, and quality examples cost more — cheap 1911s can be genuinely finicky. For a first gun where the goal is "learn fundamentals and carry reliably," a striker-fired 9mm (Glock 19, M&P, P320) is more forgiving and cheaper to feed. If you love the platform, nothing wrong with starting there — just know you're signing up for a bit more discipline.