Utah Lawmaker wants to designate a state gun

[accadacca]

Sweet! A Utah state gun!

--

December 7th, 2010 @ 6:00pm
By ksl.com
SALT LAKE CITY -- Soldiers used it in both World Wars and gun enthusiasts say it has defended American values, but does that mean the Browning 1911 handgun, designed by Ogden native John Browning, deserves a spot as Utah's state firearm? The idea is getting mixed reviews.

The Browning 1911 would be in the same class as the seagull, the state bird; the Sego Lily, the state flower; and the Dutch oven, the state cooking pot. The question some have is whether a state gun is somehow different.

Steve Gunn, with the Gun Violence Prevention Center, said, "I would prefer that if we adopt a firearm as our symbol, that we use something more modern like a .50 caliber sniper rifle or perhaps an assault rifle."

It's a sarcastic response to the idea of a state firearm from a man concerned about gun violence. Rep. Carl Wimmer, (R) Herriman,is serious about elevating this historic, semi-automatic .45 caliber handgun, though.

"This is not an implementation of death, this is an implementation of freedom. This is the firearm that helped win World War II, that helped win World War I and defend American values," Wimmer said.

John Moses Browning, who was born in Ogden, created the gun along with many others. Wimmer says the Browning 1911 is the most proficient firearm in the history of the United States. He also said next year would be the perfect year to honor Browning and this particular gun as it is the 100 year anniversary that it was adopted by the United States Army. Its design is virtually unchanged today.

"Next year, 2011, will be the 100 year anniversary that it was adopted by the U.S. Army. So I think it's very fitting and appropriate that we designate this as the state firearm of Utah," Wimmer said.

Not everyone is thrilled with the state firearm but there's not a huge appetite for a big fight at the Capitol.

Scott Hyatt said, "I think it's good recognition for the state, and good to recognize Mr. Browning, but I don't know if we need to designate a gun for our state."

Cory Alexander said, "If we had a state gun it would be cool I guess, but there's no real relevance to it."

Instead of a fight, there might simply be more sarcasm.

"I would nominate arsenic as our state poison, because, of course arsenic is often a by-product of our state mining industry," Gunn told KSL.

Gunn said Wimmer's proposal is in bad taste at best.

Wimmer said he'll propose the state gun designation in the upcoming legislative session, although he said he doesn't want to spend a lot of time debating it because there are more important issues that need to be addressed.

Several lawmakers are opposed to the idea, but none of them expressed any appetite for putting much effort into opposing it.

Compiled with contributions from Richard Piatt and Randall Jeppesen

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=13561290

[denaliguide]

utah has a state cooking pot? whodathunkit?

[StudChild]

I vote for the browning 1911

[asdf]

wow... what a HUGE waste of time and energy.

Wasn't Obama supposed to take away my all of my guns way last year?

[Sombeech]

Can we shoot the state bird with it?

On a serious note, I thought it was interesting how the Browning guns alone had such an impact in the World Wars, and in effect a great impact on world history.

State Gun? Meh, sure, but like he said, there are much more important things to solve right now. Hopefully they just mention the idea and get a Yea or Nay vote out of the deal and move on without spending too much $$$.

[StudChild]

Can we shoot the state bird with it?

Only if you cook it in a Dutch oven, the states cooking pot.

[moabfool]

I think it's funny that the anti-gun wack job's name is Gunn.

[Sombeech]

I think it's funny that the anti-gun wack job's name is Gunn.

He might have gotten so much crap with it growing up, he decided to turn against guns, ignoring all logic.

[trackrunner]

Hopefully they just mention the idea and get a Yea or Nay vote out of the deal and move on without spending too much $$$.

they don't. I worked at the state capital and you will not believe the time lost debating the state vegetable. many important bills couldn't be debated because time ran out for the legislative session. much more important than the state vegetable

[canyonphile]

they don't. I worked at the state capital and you will not believe the time lost debating the state vegetable. many important bills couldn't be debated because time ran out for the legislative session. much more important than the state vegetable

Life was so much simpler, with its very easy-to-define priorities, when we [humans] were living caves or cliff dwellings, wasn't it?

That being said, I think the *idea* of a state gun is very .

[stefan]

wow... what a HUGE waste of time and energy.

x2 and i thought conservative politicians promoted small and efficient government and wow utah's soooo edgy

Wasn't Obama supposed to take away my all of my guns way last year?

yeah and turn the united states into some socialistcommunistfascist regime ...

but, man, what a sales pitch all that gun fear rhetoric was from the endless organizations and groups promoting it ... with stores across the nation running out of guns and bullets. stunning. anyone heard of pavlov?

[stefan]

..

A state gun
Op/Ed
Salt Lake Tribune




Utah lawmakers continue to struggle to find just the right way to honor the late firearms inventor John Moses Browning. Unfortunately, their latest idea, naming the Browning model 1911 pistol the state gun, is another miss.


Earlier this year, one senator wanted to attach Browning’s name to an existing holiday, perhaps Memorial Day, Veterans Day or Pioneer Day. That plan didn’t gain much support, thank goodness, so, now, a different lawmaker is back with a different idea. Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, wants to declare the Browning model 1911 .45-caliber pistol the state gun.


As far as we can tell, no other state has a state gun, so that would make Utah the first. But that isn’t the kind of notoriety the state needs. Like all places, Utah has its peculiarities. This surely would be another.


Naming a state gun is problematic because a gun is, after all, a killing tool. It’s not like honoring the state flower, state bird, or even the state dinosaur, which happens to be a rather nasty carnivore. A gun necessarily carries the connotation of violent death, not the sort of thing Utah would want to appear to celebrate.


While the naming of the state gun would eventually lapse into obscurity, as most official state symbols do, it would give Utah an awkward 15 minutes of, “Say, what?” “A state gun?”


We don’t question that Browning is worthy of commemoration. He was undoubtedly one of the greatest firearms inventors in U.S. history, perhaps the greatest in history, period. That he contributed significantly to the U.S. victories in World War I and World War II is settled history.


The model 1911 .45 semiautomatic pistol was the standard U.S. sidearm for decades. His Browning Automatic Rifle and machine guns were critical to American fighting efforts.


Browning was a native Utahn, born in Ogden in 1855 of pioneer stock. At his death in 1926, his accomplishments were widely recognized. One reason to name the model 1911 pistol the state gun now is that it would coincide with the centennial of its invention (hence its name).

But instead of naming a state gun, why not honor Browning with a statue at the State Capitol?


Utah already has an outstanding, though modest, state museum devoted to Browning and his firearms at Union Station in Ogden. If you’re interested in firearms and haven’t seen it, you should check it out. It’s wonderful.


Still, naming a state gun would be a public relations misfire.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion...-utah.html.csp

[mattandersao]

because a gun is, after all, a killing tool

Guns dont Kill people, people kill people?
Isnt that the typical comeback for second amendment people

I originally said wacko's but that wasnt really appropriate! :)

[greyhair biker]

I want to support a state gun idea but even Wyoming doesnt have a state gun. They DO however have a gun museum in Cody (very cool)...but I digress ANYHOO...it's kinda funny wyoming doesnt already have a state gun when legislation like this is in the works:
http://www.bullsandbeavers.com/2010/...or-gun-rights/

[moabfool]

Guns dont Kill people, people kill people?
Isnt that the typical comeback for second amendment wackos (and I mean wacko's in the nicest way )

I represent that statement...uh...I mean I resemble that remark

Since this thread is destined to "go there" let's give it the last little shove it really needs.

Post your favorite trite but true pro-gun slogan here. Or if you got your deductive skills in college post your favorite catchy but false anti-gun slogan (the only other kind of anti-gun slogan is "not catchy but false"). I'll start with some that are true.

9mm is faster than 9-1-1.

The west wasn't won with a registered gun.

When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns.

When seconds count the police are just minutes away.

You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

God made men. Colonel Colt made them equal.

Forget the dog, BEWARE of owner.

[fourtycal]

This is Awesome I can put my Utah gun next to my Olympic edition dutch oven. I think there is no better handgun than the 1911 and I bet there will be a special one issued as a collectible as Utah's state gun. I might hold out for the Browning anniversary edition though

"Because I can't carry a Cop"

[ratagonia]

He might have gotten so much crap with it growing up, he decided to turn against guns, ignoring all logic.

Whack job? Ignoring all Logic? uh, wait, isn't my languaging for all y'alls gun-fetish Whack Jobs, who seem to think lots and lots of guns will give the good guys the upper hand, ignoring all logic and evidence?

Whew! Got my languaging back.

You guys are whacked!

Tom

[denaliguide]

they don't. I worked at the state capital and you will not believe the time lost debating the state vegetable. many important bills couldn't be debated because time ran out for the legislative session. much more important than the state vegetable

Utah has a state vegetable? who did they pick?

[stefan]

Guns dont Kill people, people kill people?

it should be: Guns dont Kill people, people use guns to kill people

[Sombeech]

it should be: people use guns to defend themselves and their nation

fix't it for ya