House Bill 932 seeks public input to select an Idaho state gun

The Idaho Legislature is seeking help choosing an official state gun. House Bill 932 requires the question to be placed on the ballot for November.

Supporters of the bill argue that firearms played an important role in American independence and Idaho's development, from Lewis and Clark to fur trappers, miners, ranchers, hunters, and modern sportsmen. The bill also cites Idaho's strong tradition of gun ownership.

Ballot Question

The Ballot Question reads as follows:

Which of the following guns should be designated as the state gun of Idaho? Please choose only one answer.

1. Winchester Model 1894 (.30-30);
2. Winchester Model 1873 “Gun that Won the West” (.44-40);
3. 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver “Peacemaker” (.45 Colt);
4. M1 Garand rifle (.30-06);
5. Colt M1911 .45 automatic Colt pistol (.45 ACP); or
6. Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle (.30-06)

Brief Statement of Purpose

This advisory question asks Idahoans to designate which gun they would like to have as the official Idaho State Gun. This is a non-binding measure, and the Legislature would have to take action during a future legislative session to officially designate a gun as the Idaho State Gun.

Below are brief descriptions of each firearm.

Potential pros and cons of each choice

These are not official campaign arguments, but common historical and practical considerations that could influence voters.

Winchester Model 1894

Pros

• One of the most iconic deer-hunting rifles in American history.
• Closely associated with hunting, ranching, and rural life, which many Idahoans identify with.
• Designed by John Browning, one of America's most influential firearms inventors. 

Cons

• More associated with hunting than with Idaho's broader military or frontier history.
• Less iconic nationally than some of the other options.

Winchester Model 1873 ("The Gun That Won the West")

Pros

• Perhaps the firearm most associated with Western expansion.
• Strong connection to frontier settlement, mining, ranching, and the image of the Old West.
• Fits Idaho's territorial-era history. 

Cons

• The "Won the West" slogan is marketing language, and some historians debate how much it reflects reality.
• May be seen as more symbolic than practical for modern Idaho.

Colt Single Action Army Revolver ("Peacemaker")

Pros

• One of the most recognizable handguns in American history.
• Associated with lawmen, cowboys, and frontier culture.
• Arizona already chose it as its state firearm, demonstrating its symbolic appeal. 

Cons

• More closely associated with Arizona and the Southwest than Idaho specifically.
• Some voters may prefer a rifle over a handgun as a state symbol.

Colt M1911

Pros

• One of the longest-serving military sidearms in U.S. history.
• Represents generations of American service members.
• Utah selected it as its official state firearm. 

Cons

• Like the Garand, its significance is largely military rather than Idaho-specific.
• Another handgun option that may not resonate as broadly with hunters.

M1 Garand

Pros

• The standard U.S. service rifle during World War II and the Korean War.
• Represents military service, patriotism, and the "Greatest Generation."
• Frequently cited as one of the most important military firearms ever made.

Cons

• Connection is more national than uniquely Idahoan.
• Less tied to hunting, ranching, and frontier life than several other options.

Remington Model 700

Pros

• Extremely popular hunting rifle.
• Represents modern hunting and shooting traditions.
• Probably the firearm many contemporary Idaho sportsmen are most familiar with.

Cons

• Newer and less historically distinctive than the frontier-era options.
• Lacks the mythic or historical stature of the 1873 Winchester, Peacemaker, Garand, or 1911.