Arizona State Sen. Lori Klein now says that pointing a loaded, rasperry-pink handgun at an Arizona Republic reporter's chest wasn't deliberate. But her side of the story doesn't align with what Richard Ruelas reported in the Republic after interviewing the lawmaker. Here's how it began: This Sunday, the newspaper published an account seemingly intended to clarify why Klein brought her handgun into the state capitol building only two days after the Tucson shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in January (her answer at the time: "I didn't think it was an issue"). During the recent interview, she brought the gun in question out from its case to show the Republic reporter, and here's what happened according to Ruelas:

"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.

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Erik Hayden