Arizona Lawmakers Name Colt Revolver As Official State Firearm

The Colt single-action Army revolver was chosen to honor people who came West because it was a preferred handgun of farmers, ranchers and miners in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The pistol was also used by the first Arizona Rangers when they were commissioner in 1901. Opponents of the law, however, say Colts were used to shoot and kill Native Americans. "Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC respects the views of the legislators who voted against the bill, but points out that the historical record indicates that the SAA was used primarily as a personal protection weapon by ranchers, farmers and miners," said Joseph Dieso, Colt's deputy general counsel. If the governor signs the bill into law, Arizona would be the second state to designate an official firearm. In March, Utah legislators designated the John M. Browning-designed M1911 pistol as the official state firearm. Utah became the first state to have an official state firearm. Browning was born and raised in Ogden, Utah...more