ARIZONA STATE REP. POINTS HER ‘RASPBERRY-PINK’ LOADED GUN AT JOURNALIST

[sasha031]

2011, the year that Republicans point their guns at the media. First came Maine state Rep. Frederick Ladd Wintle (R) who threatened to shoot a photographer in a Dunkin Donuts Parking Lot. Now comes Arizona state Sen. Lori Klein (R). While showing off her “raspberry-pink handgun,” she “aimed it at a journalist” who was interviewing her about her pro-gun positions just outside the Senate chambers. The gun, a .380 Rugor, was loaded, and Klein did not have the safety on. Klein, however, told the reporter not to worry because “I just didn’t have my hand on the trigger.”
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/07/11/265846/arizona-state-rep-gun-journalist/

[pnwmom]

1. Ah, yes. Gun owners are SO responsible. Why would we ever need gun control?

It's only known criminals with records who would ever kill someone with a gun. Why worry about them getting into the hands of idiots?

[damntexdem]

11. Oh, but the gun is so cute. Surely no one would object to being killed or maimed by it.

;-)

[roguevalley]

27. between Florida, texas and Arizona Alaska feels normal

[Trajan]

2. Perhaps ...

It would be wise for journalists to have a gun handy during interviews .... With the gun pointed directly at the politician, loaded, cocked, and ready to fire ... With the trigger finger millimeters away from the firing position ...

Yeah ..... Let's play with guns ....

[MADem]

3. Who put that nitwit in office? She needs a gun safety course at a minimum. NT

[pepperbear]

8. from a related story.....

Klein later told the Republic reporter that she has taken informal gun training and was "taught gun safety by her father."

http://www.arizonaguardian.com/azg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3483:state-sen-points-loaded-gun-at-reporter-in-the-senate&catid=958:newsfp&Itemid=236


Apparently, "always assume a gun is loaded. Never point it at anyone or anything unless you intend to use it" just wasn't covered.

[immoderate]

12. The advanced course!

:rofl:

--imm

[MADem]

25. Well, I guess daddy must have played bass.....or freebased!

She needs to take a course that provides her with a certificate, or she should be told if she's going to point a gun at anyone, it should be HERSELF.

[david_vincent]

4. Inexcusable

There is NO excuse for pointing a loaded gun at another human being unless you need to kill him/her.

[immoderate]

9. Never, never, never point a gun.

Whatever else she did is OK. My safety instructor (years ago) said to never even let the barrel point at someone while it was taken apart.

--imm

[me b zola]

5. I h8 knuckleheads with guns

Add to that the hubris & entitlement of a conservative and there is a recipe for disaster.

[jorno67]

6. Responsible gun owner in action

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2bd_1309966583

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paxk_LPmdMI

[Lucky Luciano]

7. Holy crap! Pointing a gun like that someone in a non self defense way should be a crime !

Is it a crime? If not, it should be.

[JoeyT]

28. I'm pretty sure it is.

I think it's called brandishing a weapon, but I can't remember. It's probably called something different depending on the jurisdiction, which doesn't help.

I think that requires intent, so reckless endangerment may be what she's charged with, if anything.

Obviously I'm not a lawyer or a cop.

[pepperbear]

10. uhm....raspberry pink Ruger....for girls.

:wow:

[pnwmom]

18. Maybe they should ban cutely colored guns.

Anything that makes them look like a toy-- or a Rethug fashion accessory -- instead of a serious weapon.

[pinboy3niner]

19. A PINK Ruger is harmless, like butterflies and unicorns

If you pull the trigger, I'm sure it only dispatches a bubble of love.

[hifiguy]

13. Pointing a gun at someone is

assault in most states. Sounds like she should be headed to the pokey.

[Taverner]

14. If the NRA were serious, they would be all over this

Sadly, I don't think they will make mention of it, even through their gun safety courses (I highly recommend them, btw) hammer it into your heads NEVER POINT A GUN AT ANYONE UNLESS YOU INTEND TO KILL THEM, and TREAT EVERY GUN AS IF ITS LOADED

[JoePhilly]

15. If the reporter had a gun, he could have shot her in self-defense.

[justiceischeap]

16. I didn't think the trigger guard would allow a whole hand... nt

[Hangingon]

17. These stories must be rare because this is recycle from Aug.

[pnwmom]

20. "Must be rare"? For a political representative to point a loaded gun

at a reporter?

Why, no, it happens every day! Where have you been?

:rofl:

[LiberalAndProud]

30. Really? She just denied it.

It took her a while to get around to it, I guess.

The reporter involved says it happened in June.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/article_d784c6b2-ac37-11e0-878f-001cc4c03286.html

[WinkyDink]

21. What could possibly go wrong?

[rabs]

22. Sure seems that state Sen. Lori Klein (R) is not a "responsible citizen."

What is that thing in the trigger housing? Some kind of trigger lock? (I am not a gun person, so was just wondering.)

[Earth_First]

23. A "Rugor"?

It's Ruger, nice piece of objective journalism there...

[ManiacJoe]

24. Simple typo. What are you reading into it?

[Heywood J]

26. Is that area covered by any sort of parliamentary immunity legislation?

Pointing a gun at someone and causing them to fear for their safety is usually considered brandishing or menacing in most places. Given her apparent lack of appreciation for gun safety, who wants to bet he feared for his safety?

[LiberalAndProud]

29. I would think responsible gun owners would be apalled at this.

It would appear she doesn't understand the most simple rules of gun safety.