The view from my desk

A gun-toting Arizona state senator is on the defensive after reports emerged that she pointed her raspberry-pink semi-automatic pistol at a reporter while demonstrating its laser sight during a recent interview.

It’s not the first time that Republican Sen. Lori Klein of Anthem has made headlines in connection with a personal weapon.

In January, Klein carried a different gun to the Legislature’s opening joint session. That was just two days after the Tucson shooting rampage that left six people dead and 13 others wounded, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

That’s right, she carried a gun to the legislature for personal protection. Potato, patato, carry a gun to a government building or to a bar (legal in Arizona). Inadvertent or not, the crux of this is an advocate of gun rights basically ignored rule #1, because an incident like this “it puts all gun owners in a bad light.” 

Klein ignored a basic tenet of gun safety: Don’t point a weapon at somebody unless you’re willing or intending to shoot.

Welcome to the Land of the Wild Wild West.