Utah designates Browning M1911 official state firearm
A Colt M1911, from the collection of Charles W Clawson The 1911 was one of the most widely-produced pistol designs of the 20th Century
Utah has become the first US state to designate an official state firearm.
The Browning M1911 joins the state fossil (allosaurus), fruit (cherry), gem (topaz), bird (sea gull) and other symbols with official designation.
The gun was designed by Utah native John Browning. The law's sponsor said it symbolised freedom and empowerment.
Opponents said it was inappropriate to glorify a firearm, citing the January mass shooting at a congresswoman's constituent event in nearby Arizona.
The .45-calibre semi-automatic pistol was designed by Browning, who was born in Utah in 1855, to fill the US military's need for a pistol with stopping power - the ability to fell an enemy with a single shot.
It was adopted by the US Army in 1911, and first saw action in combat with Mexican rebel leader Pancho Villa in 1916, according to the Browning Arms Company. It was later used in World War I and beyond.
Democratic Utah State Representative Brian King opposed the bill.
"When we are talking about a state symbol we would do well to come up with one that is more unifying than divisive and this is a very divisive symbol for obvious reasons," he told Reuters. "This is just a poor choice for a state symbol." BBC
Update: Video report.
http://www.newsy.com/videos/utah-s-official-state-firearm-fires-controversy/
H/T Daniel at http://www.newsy.com/
Update: WaPo's big gun page. The Hidden Life of Guns
8 comments:
The problem here is guns, not mental illness. Mental illness is global. Only in the US do mentally ill have such easy access to guns.
https://twitter.com/Richard_Florida/status/279972469136306178
A Brief History of the United States of America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEVPSfJIQ84&feature=share&list=PLDDB842CC1CE09707
Amazing what you can pack into three minutes, ain't it?
Did you read the Pravda piece Maren?
Honest feelings here Chuck, as tragic as the shootings were, I find my sympathy a bit in short supply.
What happened, happened in a country that over the last hundred years, has violently murdered millions around the world.
And still is, and plenty of kids included.
Good morning H
As for the sympathy thing I understand what you mean.
The violently murdered millions around the world are the unknown ones living in a place far away, with little relevance to the day-to-day lives of American citizens.
My sympathy goes to everyone who loses a loved one, but my sympathy won’t change a thing. One can only hope this close to home tragedy will help them rethink.
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/16-12-2012/123193-usa_disposable_people-0/
It’s a good piece, I do mostly agree, but not completely.
The USA doesn't even value the lives of its own citizens.
Possibly true, but how about value your own life and the lives of others. You gotta start somewhere.
Also, it is one of the few developed nations that fails its citizens totally in the area of the right to adequate health care. Those who cannot afford it, do not get it.
The Lanza family could afford it.
It's not the guns, stupid! It's the lack of care for your own people.
Perhaps it’s not the guns but I’m pretty sure it also has to do with the easy access to guns and the irresponsibility of parents to their children, not only regarding weapons, but also regarding the "It’s all about me" thing, a worldwide disease, by the way.
All together, it’s a vicious circle.
Or maybe it’s just my misinterpretation. M
Parents, I cannot stress this enough: the healing process starts with you. Not the mental health community. Not the police. Not the government. Not the school. You. - an anonymous young writer.
http://thebea.st/TfrGgs
Thanks Chuck. I read the first page, I didn't really want to go further with it.
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/12/look-all-these-guns-people-got-christmas/60306/
Tweeted.
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