Cartilage piercing questions?

I'm thirteen and for my fourteenth birthday i really want to get my cartilage pierced. It's fine with my parents-but i want to know if its better i go somewhere and get it done with a needle or just get it over with a gun somewhere at the mall(not claires!). I've heard a bunch of different things about how its okay to get it done with a piercing gun- and also how it can shatter your ear. But what is the chance of that actually happening? I I got it done with a gun-does it lower the chances of getting your ear shattered if its done lower down? (not the top of your ear, kind of in the middle still towards the top) My mom had her cartilage done a few years ago with a gun and it was fine. I also know they are sterile-I have seen them use a different piercing gun each time(a new one straight out of the package) so that doesn't worry me. Anything helps!!!!!