The First Official State Firearm? Utah Aims At A Pistol

NPR ^ | 27 Jan 2011 | Howard Berkes

[smokingfrog]

A Browning M1911 semiautomatic pistol may soon join the sego lily, Rocky Mountain elk and sugar beet as official symbols of the state of Utah.

The State Senate is considering a measure passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday that would declare the .45-caliber handgun the official state firearm — the first in the country.

"This firearm was created by John Moses Browning, who was a son of Utah pioneers," said Republican Rep. Carl Wimmer of Herriman, Utah, during debate on the House floor. "This firearm really has defended liberty and freedom around the country and around the world. And I think this is a very appropriate designation to capture a portion of the state history."

The M1911 is one of several notable Browning firearms and has been used by the military and law enforcement since World War I.

Wimmer characterized the notion of an official state firearm as benign, similar to naming the Dutch oven the official state cooking pot. But Democrat Carol Spackman Moss of Holladay opposed the move.

"It seems insensitive to me at this time when many people are mourning the deaths of six people in Tucson and the serious wounding of Gabrielle Giffords, a friend of mine," Moss told the Utah House. "Many people have a negative experience with guns because guns do kill people [when they're] in the hands of those who use them wrongly."

[cpdiii]

The M1911 is one of several notable Browning firearms and has been used by the military and law enforcement since World War I.

Is it accurate enough to kill? Yes.
Is it reliable? Yes Yes
Does it have any short comings? Yes as it is of limited capacity in its magazine, but PARA ARMS fixed that with a double stack magazine.

Doing it better for 100 years. "Thou shalt not mess with perfection!

[stansblugrassgrl]

I had the honor of meeting Jeff Cooper shortly before his death. I’ve also had the honor of training at Gunsite. This would be a good AZ state gun, or a Ruger .45, in honor of Col. Cooper. As I don’t know how to post a picture, here’s a link.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e0/Coljeffcooper.jpg

[HiJinx]

I think it’s a good choice. AZ’s would have to be a Ruger of some kind.

Or something from MacMillan - made in Phoenix.

[TLI]

Not offical but very nice.

Perhaps I will send Ricky an email about what Utah is doing...

During the untamed years of the Wild West, the Texas Rangers rode as lone defenders of justice. They were often the only protection on the frontier for settlers facing hostile Indians, cattle rustlers, bandits and gunslingers. And time after time, the men with the badges proved worthy of every challenge. Their exploits made the Rangers one of the most famous and respected crime-fighting forces anywhere in the world.

As the nation entered the 20th century, the state of Texas found itself on the frontlines of a Mexican revolution, a surge in bootlegging and a population boom sparked by the discovery of oil. The Rangers faced new breeds of criminal and new kinds of crime. But with the same courage and discipline that served them on the frontier, justice triumphed and the Texas Rangers secured their legacy as true American heroes.

In the absence of a global conflict, the Thompson was immediately touted as the ultimate crime fighting tool. It was described as an ideal weapon for the protection of large estates, ranches and plantations, which was certainly appealing to the Rangers, whose jurisdiction spread out for hundreds of miles in every direction. The promises of the Thompson being “simple, safe, sturdy and sure in action” proved true, allowing it to secure a distinctive history with the Texas Rangers in their brave efforts to uphold law and order. To this day the Thompson remains one of the most widely recognized and respected firearms in the world.

.

[TLI]

Link thang...

http://www.texasranger.org/store/ProductPages/AmericaRemembers.htm

[Hammerhead]

It looks like a bodybuilder with skinny legs.

Just MHO.

[smokingfrog]

[dagogo redux]

Blast it! Now my Ed Brown Custom Kobra Carry wants us to move to Utah!

[onona]

Sheesh, what does that make Eugene Stoner to Lawrence ?

[lurk]

Isn’t the Barrett 50 cal made in AZ?

[TigersEye]

CA state gun (cork gun)

You'll put bruise your eye out a good one.

[Svartalfiar]

A pistol? Out of all of Browning’s wonderful inventions, they pick a pistol?

[TigersEye]

How about a marshmallow shooter?

You'll put your pancreas out.

[Svartalfiar]

[marktwain]

Many of us are pushing for the Colt Peacemaker.

[investigateworld]

(LOL) Has my vote too!

[M1911A1]

Naturally, I approve.

[smokingfrog]

Barrett is headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

[04-Bravo]

I have this fantasy about driving the California anti-gun liberals even nuttier than they already are. I want to designate the ArmaLite AR-15 as the official state gun.

The original AR-15’s were manufactured by ArmaLite in Hollywood, CA.

Or perhaps we could have an official rifle, plus an official pistol. The original .44 Auto Mag pistol was made in Pasadena.

[umgud]

The first Calico’s with 50 & 100 round mags were made in Bakersfield CA.