AZ SENATOR DISPUTES AIMING GUN AT REPORTER

posted by Andrea Kelly

The political news of the day Monday came from a Sunday news story.

In its series, "Guns in Arizona," the Arizona Republic newspaper reported Sunday that, while a reporter was interviewing State Sen. Lori Klein (R-Anthem) about carrying her gun onto the Senate floor, she took the gun out of her purse to show it to him.

But it was the way she showed him that is drawing attention from national and local media. The reporter said she pointed the laser sight of the loaded gun at his chest.

After the news swept the state, State Sen. Steve Gallardo, (D-Phoenix) called for an ethics inquiry into the incident, and also a ban of firearms in the Senate.

Klein told the Arizona Capitol Times she pointed the gun's laser sight at a wall, and the reporter sat down in front of it.

Here's reporter Richard Ruelas' account in the Republic:

"Oh, it's so cute," Klein said, as she unzipped the loaded Ruger from its carrying case to show a reporter and photographer. She was sitting on a leather couch in a lounge, just outside the Senate chamber.

She showed off the laser sighting by pointing the red beam at the reporter's chest. The gun has no safety, she said, but there was no need to worry.

"I just didn't have my hand on the trigger," she said.

And here's Klein's account in the Arizona Capitol Times:

“The photographer, who was behind me at the time, asked me to show him the laser sight and I did so, turning it on and shining it on the wall in front of me (away from the photographer). During this demonstration, the reporter came and sat down in the sofa in front of me, placing himself in the line of the laser sight,” Klein said.

“He noticed the light, then I noticed the light, then I turned it off. I apologized and let him know that he was safe because I keep my finger out of the trigger guard. Again, that is basic gun safety,” she added.