ally. reporter: you consider him a friend? absolutely. he s a gun enthusiast and a big pr proponent of the right to bear arms. reporter: that s why for the first time this year when american gun lovers went to russia to compete in a shooting match, tortion was right there. he s a regular at nra meetings with the president. other christian conservatives are having the same change of heart, inviting a delegation from the russian orthodox church to the first ever christian persecution summit this spring organized by another putin fan, evangelist franklin graham. they met in to 15. i think he s an honest person, a direct person. so he s going to do what s right