Whoa, as we say out West.

A state lawmaker known for championing the rights of gun-owners pointed a loaded firearm at the chest of a reporter during a recent interview at the Capitol.

Republican Sen. Lori Klein was showing off her raspberry-pink handgun when she aimed it at a journalist who was interviewing her in the lounge just outside the Senate chambers.

According to the story that was published Sunday in the Arizona Republic, Klein’s .380 Ruger was loaded and did not have a safety to keep the gun from going off.

But Klein told the reporter, Richard Ruelas, that he didn’t need to worry because, “I just didn’t have my hand on the trigger.”

[…]

Klein made headlines in January after bringing her loaded gun into the House and Senate chambers just two days after the mass shooting in Tucson.

Klein says she carries the gun in her purse. In the past she’s said that her Ruger goes wherever she does. And according to Sunday’s article, the Republican lawmaker said her gun was “so cute” right before pulling out.

She then pointed it at Ruelas, who reported the red dot from the gun’s laser sighting was visible on his chest. Klein later told the Republic reporter that she has taken informal gun training and was “taught gun safety by her father.” Ruelas was unavailable for comment.

[…]

Here’s the Arizona Republic story, written by Richard Ruelas.