This concern is valid. Handgun rounds may or may not penetrate the skull. Depends on the ammo, depends on the angle, depends on the skull.Many, many documented instances of rounds not penetrating skulls including a few that I did the X-rays on or the autopsy photos of.
But please do not believe me, read Jim Cirillo's Book "Modern Day Gunfighter" Mr. Cirillo was a NYPD officer and in the "stakeout squad" (IIRC) and was involved in a number of "Serious Social Situations". During some of these he used specially loaded ammo for his first round and later designed a bullet specificly designed to penetrate the skull. He became interested in this area of ballistics after seeing rounds not penetrate the skull when observing autopsies.
NukemJim
