State Sen Lori Klein points “cute” loaded gun at reporter’s chest

by David Safier

This makes three Arizona GOP gun stories in as many days. First there was the “Shoot with the Sheriff” story. Then came Gosar staffer Blake Schritter’s tweets, which included this one: “The line at the post office is moving at a glacial pace. I’m ready to open fire with a handgun to get some damn service!”

Now it’s freshman state Senator Lori Klein, who, in fun, pointed her loaded gun at a reporter’s chest while they were sitting in a lounge in the Capitol.

According to the story in the Republic, it was two days after Giffords was shot, when Klein was packing a pink .380 Ruger at the Capitol. (Though this is clearly illegal, Senate President Russell “Rule of Law” Pearce says he exercises a Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy towards firearms in the Senate).

Klein wanted to show her gun off to the press while sitting in the lounge.

“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.

Senator Klein, your cute little gun can kill people, especially at point blank range, especially when it’s aimed at someone’s chest. I’m assuming you’ve taken a gun safety course, though in Arizona, that’s a questionable assumption. My understanding is, in those classes you are taught to always act as if your gun is loaded and will go off. You are never, ever to point a gun at anything unless you plan to shoot.

I have read too many tragic stories in the news about people who didn’t know the gun was loaded, who didn’t mean to pull the trigger, who were sure their finger wasn’t on the trigger, and on and on.

Here is the not-so-cute photo of Klein the Republic ran with this story.