M1911 Gun Becomes An Official Utah State Symbol!

[Better Believe It]

OFFICIAL UTAH STATE SYMBOL




Add this to Utah's list of state symbols: An official firearm
By Michael Martinez, CNN
March 18, 2011

Now it's added an official state firearm -- the John M. Browning-designed M1911 pistol, becoming the first state in the nation to have one, according to the state legislator who sponsored the law.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed the new symbol into law this week.

State Rep. Carl Wimmer, a Republican who was a police officer and SWAT team commander, came up with the idea for a state firearm last year after hearing about how Pennsylvania lawmakers wanted to make the Pennsylvania long rifle its official state firearm, Wimmer told CNN on Friday.

"There was more controversy than I anticipated, but it really passed with bipartisan support," Wimmer said. "One of the biggest comments from the critics was that we should not honor an implement of death. And my response to that has always been is that this firearm does not represent an implement of death. It represents an implement of freedom -- just the mere fact that our soldiers have used this firearm to defend liberty and freedom around the world for the last 100 years."

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/18/utah.state.firearm/index.html?hpt=T2

[virgogal]

1. This is a joke right? Right?

[LadyHawkAZ]

3. No, this is Utah

Nothing they do here is funny enough to be a joke.

[virgogal]

6. Never been there. Living in MA this sounds like a sitcom plot topic.

[Motown_Johnny]

10. Utah has some spectacularly beautiful areas

Flaming Gorge is/was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

I lived in Colorado for quite a while and have camped most anything of interest from Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon to Moab.

[virgogal]

12. I'm sure it has. When I visited Colorado I wanted to take a side trip

to Utah but time ran out.

Enjoy your camping-it sounds wonderful.

My idea of roughing it is a hotel that doesn't have heated towel racks. :-)

[Better Believe It]

16. You had towel racks .... with towels? You must have stayed at a pretty fancy place with a toilet!

Had to go outdoors to use a two story outhouse at the last motel where me and my spouse stayed.

We always tried to use the top one.

But, you couldn't beat the price!

[virgogal]

26. I'll be damned----a two decker outhouse. Rural charm though.

[Motown_Johnny]

22. those were my younger days

I am back home in michigan now and have not camped in many many years

[Old Troop]

27. Where do you live? Outside of 495, the gun culture is alive and well.

[virgogal]

28. I'm even inside 128/95.

[Arctic Dave]

2. Apparently the stupid has mutated and traveled to Alaska.

They are pushing through a bill this session to make the 30-06 the state gun.

The post are not what you would expect for a red state. i think it has pissed more people because of their blatant time wasting.

[Wilms]

4. Well hasn't Obama taken it away from them? n/t

:sarcasm:

[Snoutport]

5. isn't this the state endorsing a product over other products? Is it made in the USA?

This sure is some great free advertising for the gun company.

[NutmegYankee]

8. The 1911 is a type made by many companies.

It's like a sedan in that many car companies make a sedan.

Other than that - Utah never fails to entertain...

On edit: Ironically, the most famous 1911 - the Colt Government Model .45 - was made in Connecticut. Thankfully we are not Utah!

[MicaelS]

20. No, the patents for the M1911 lapsed a long time ago

Provided they follow BATFE rules, anyone can set up a business and manufacture the M1911 or M1911A1. The design is a classic. There's a tremendous market for new 1911s, aftermarket parts, and shop that customize them. you can pay over $5,000 for a custom 1911.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1911

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/handgun-index.htm

[krispos42]

23. The 1911 isn't patented any more, and it was a government issued gun

So basically nowadays anybody with a mill and a lathe can make them for sale. Currently, dozens of companies make them, from "Original Government Specification" for $500 to "Every Millimeter Hand-Polished" versions for $3,000.

Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory Inc., Kimber, Les Baer, Nighthawk, Taurus, STI International, Para-Ordnance, and SigArms are some I can name off the top of my head that do a pretty good business in 1911s.

[Maine_Nurse]

7. It beats my state fighting with another over a damned whoopie pie.

[BOHICA12]

9. John Browning ..... was born in Utah. Seems a fitting gesture.

... Now I'm partial to the M2 .50 cal he designed that is still in production and use by the US Army et al. Oh the sweet sound of a properly head-spaced & timed Ma Deuce. However, private ownership is problematic. But I do own a 1911.

[Maine_Nurse]

11. Agreed. I'll take a Maxim for my state please (Hiram was from here).

[flvegan]

15. Fellow 1911 owner agrees with you.

[slackmaster]

13. Good choice. Favorite son John Moses Browning was a fantastic industrial designer.

As a machinist I regard him as Master of the Key-Seat Cutter.

[rzemanfl]

14. And 45 is the official IQ. n/t

[jpak]

17. FUCK YEAH

not

:puke:

[krispos42]

18. You forgot a couple of "yup up"s

:-)


On a more serious note, do states making "Official State Foods" and "Official State Desserts" disgust you as much? Please take into account America's obesity rate.

[MicaelS]

21. FUCK YEAH!!!

YEAH!!! YEAH!!! YEAH!!! YEAH!!! YEAH!!! YEAH!!! YEAH!!! YEAH!!!:evilgrin: :bounce: :beer:

[AsahinaKimi]

19. I wonder who will be the first

to actually use it?

[aikoaiko]

24. I wonder if this will inspire GA to adopt the Glock

They are made/assembled in Smyrna GA.

[badtoworse]

25. An excellent choice

There are many variants of the M1911 and it is arguably the most reliable, widely used pistol design in the world today. My 9 mm Browning Hi-Power is based on that design and it's a great gun.