There’s a state reptile, a state bird, a state bird and even official state neckwear.
But what’s a place like Arizona like without an official state firearm?
Not much, the way Sen. Ron Gould sees it. So the Lake Havasu Republican has crafted legislation to formally give that designation to the Colt single action Army revolver.
And it’s not just Gould. He got 42 other Republicans from the House and Senate to sign on as co-sponsors of the measure.
So why does Arizona need a state firearm?
“Just like we need to tell Turkey that we’re friends,” Gould told Capitol Media Services.
Put another way, Gould he said it’s a method of sending some sort of official statement.
“I think Arizona has a tradition of being a Wild West state,” he explained. “The Colt single action Army revolver epitomizes the Wild West heritage of Arizona.”
If approved, the weapon would join various other items that lawmakers have designated over the years as “official.”
For example, petrified wood is the official state fossil.
The cactus wren is the state bird, the palo verde is the state tree and the “pure white waxy flower of the saguaro cactus” is the state flower.
But the list has grown over the years as legislators — or their constituents — have made suggestions.
The two-tailed swallowtail became the state butterfly in 2001 after a statewide poll.
The ever-present turquoise in silver jewelry sold all over the state is the official gemstone.
If you want to be properly dressed, you wear the bola tie which is the official state neckwear.
And just this year, after realizing its unofficial status, Gov. Jan Brewer signed legislation designating “The Grand Canyon State” as the state nickname.
Rich posted at 12:58 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
Hey! Jobs, real estate values, budget. Stop the silly nonsense and handle business. If you can't do that, resign, but stop the silly season law making.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 2:02 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
I guess some people are mad because the Arizona State Legislature is honoring a pistol, and not just any pistol but a "MADE IN AMERICA BY AMERICANS"....COLT PISTOL.
I guess it it had been made in...MEXICO.... OR MAYBE EVEN...CUBA...VENEZUELA...RUSSIA...OR EVEN COMMUNIST CHINA......then it would have been....OK.
Showing America that Arizona values products that employ....LEGAL AMERICAN WORKERS...is something to be ridiculed and denigrated.
As for... "JOBS"....I guess someone has a "short" memory. Just last week the Arizona Legislature passed a $538 Million Dollar Jobs Bill that our wonderful Governor Jan Brewer asked for in this Special Session. We saw just last week how INTEL is going to build a BILLION DOLLAR + manufacturing plant in Chandler. Thanks to the PRO-BUSINESS.....PRO-JOBS....Republican Administration and Legislature that we now have in place in Arizona
NOT ONE SINGLE DEMOCRAT IN THE HOUSE OR SENATE VOTED FOR THIS ............JOB CREATION BILL.
NOT ONE DEMOCRAT...NOT ONE.
Slabside posted at 2:12 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
Well put Leon. I too am tired of the "jobs" nonsense. The legislators are working on all aspects of their responsibilities.
EmperorSmith posted at 2:22 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
Guess it was more widely used here in the early days.
I would have voted the Colt Dragoon. Since there is a mnt range here named Dragoon.
I don't have a problem honoring heritage.
Poorman posted at 2:50 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
If we have to have one the Colt 1873 peacemaker is a good choice,it help settle the West. Shame we couldn't get the Winchester in there somehow,as its another gun that help to settle the West. Without either one,we could very well be part of Mexico,or some indian nation.
EmperorSmith posted at 3:15 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
Yeah poor but I think it was meant as sort of a draw self defense. Not that I do like the rifles.
manini posted at 3:38 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
I'm for the Winchester Model 74 lever-action rifle or
Henry lever-action rifle...you could get more self-defense
bang-for-the-buck at a greater range than a pistola.
I'm for my own custom-made Mauser-action .416 Caliber
Rigby, which shoots 325 grain Barnes X-bullets at 3,100
feet/sec muzzle velocity with 6,700 ft/lbs of muzzle energy.
Great for shooting Tyrannasaurus Rex Dinosaurs in-season at 400-500 yards. I also like my ole 45/70 Marlin lever-action bear hunting rifle in Ponderosa Pine country firing a 400 grain RN bullet...especially if U jump a 900 lb Jaguar or 200 lb Mountain Lion...hehehe.
EmperorSmith posted at 3:49 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
I would feel bad I killed a cat.
EmperorSmith posted at 9:07 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
Dale I can free you
EmperorSmith posted at 9:25 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
if I said that or not ok,
Lenapelou posted at 10:51 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
Join the Discusion? Is this a sick joke? In light of what happened in Tucson. What is there to discuss? How sick you are? Im as old as any of these clowns in the house and I'm here to tell you 1963 is 47 years in the rear view mirror, and many of you have learned nothing. If there is a war on and you need a gun, then that is one thing. But if you think there is a war going on in this country today, then you know nothing of true war, and those of us who have been to war, understand this. Stop playing war games little boys. you make AZ the laughing stock of the nation.
EmperorSmith posted at 11:01 pm on Tue, Feb 22, 2011.
move
EmperorSmith posted at 12:03 am on Wed, Feb 23, 2011.
nation I have laugh looking a NY CA. So gas up and pack.
Dale Whiting posted at 8:05 am on Wed, Feb 23, 2011.
Where our border Red State, Utah, chose the M1911 A1 .45 caliber automatic pistol, a fire arm designed by a Utah native, are we going to settle for a six shooter? Let's go for the Glock. After all it is best positioned to become the fire arm which made Arirzona famous!
beefrits posted at 9:27 am on Wed, Feb 23, 2011.
Would it be too much to ask the Emperor to post a clear and understandable comment?
Poorman posted at 11:45 am on Wed, Feb 23, 2011.
I think poster manini has been shooting that 416 to much,its scrambled his brain i think. Oh and poster Dale the 1911A1 is a semi-automatic pistol..
EmperorSmith posted at 11:54 am on Wed, Feb 23, 2011.
Dale there is making reference then there is something that are out of line.
EmperorSmith posted at 11:55 am on Wed, Feb 23, 2011.
Guess you don't care about human life, probably life in general.
EmperorSmith posted at 1:29 pm on Wed, Feb 23, 2011.
AS Dale has figured out I use references, well out of time.
BOBFROMBC posted at 1:52 pm on Thu, Feb 24, 2011.
THE PEACEMAKER IS FINE BUT IN THIS DAY AND AGE I BELIEVE THE COLT 1911 IS MORE POPULAR.
BOBFROMBC
XLV
Mojavegreen posted at 2:49 pm on Thu, Feb 24, 2011.
Cool!, Utah just recently did the same thing. Hope this becomes wide spread.