Utah designates the Browning M1911 - Official State Firearm

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**Mr. Burning**

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12792633

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."

State Bird - The Seagull - Is there much coastline around Utah?

Mad Mad State.

**schadenfreude**

Mr. Burning wrote:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12792633

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."

State Bird - The Seagull - Is there much coastline around Utah?

Mad Mad State.

Flying rats known as seagulls infest the great salt lake. They have a special place in the Mormon religion because flying rats saved the early settlers from a grasshopper related death.

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

The 1911 is one of the most historically significant firearms ever built, and it's still a competitive design despite being 100 years old. If a state is going to have a state firearm the 1911 is as worth as any other American made firearm, and since John Browning was a native to Utah it's a real not brainer to figure out what should be the state firearm of Utah.

The only real question up for debate is if the state should have a state firearm. Utah is a red state, so it's no surprise the Republicans won that fight. I have members of my family that are both Mormons and registered members of the Democratic party that would not approve of a state firearm so I know they do exist, but they are a real minority in what is generally a hardcore conservative religion.

**CURNOW**

I think the 1911 is inappropriate as a state firearm they should of used a auto 5 shotgun or the browning 50cal !

**Kid_Kyoto**

"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."

Not mentioned: because Filipinos are too dang tough for anything less.

**Andrew1975**

For a state that outlaws porn an liquor, it somehow just got sexy. I mean I can have 10 wives and the gun to mow them down with.

Crap I was thinking of the machine gun, not the pistol should have read more closely.

**TheH2Oelement**

This Is why I love my state ^_^ full of fun people.

we also apparently have an abnormally huge consumption of porn

**Andrew1975**

TheH2Oelement wrote:This Is why I love my state ^_^ full of fun people.

we also apparently have an abnormally huge consumption of porn

I thought porn was illegal in Utah. Or is that dancing? I gotta be able to cut loose. FOOTLOOSE.

Flying rats known as seagulls infest the great salt lake. They have a special place in the Mormon religion because flying rats saved the early settlers from a grasshopper related death.

I read this too quickly and actually imagined real flying rats (not bats) eating grasshoppers. Its not so far fetched those wacky Mormons and their invisible tablets and special glasses.

**TheH2Oelement**

Andrew1975 wrote:
TheH2Oelement wrote:This Is why I love my state ^_^ full of fun people.

we also apparently have an abnormally huge consumption of porn

I thought porn was illegal in Utah. Or is that dancing? I gotta be able to cut loose. FOOTLOOSE.

It isn't really monitored. Utah has many dumb laws, such as it is technically illegal to not drink milk, you cant whale here either

**Andrew1975**

It isn't really monitored. Utah has many dumb laws, such as it is technically illegal to not drink milk,

There is a lactose intolerance joke there somewhere!

you cant whale here either

So basically everyone is a career criminal. I assume you don't mean whale as in whale hunting.

**TheH2Oelement**

Andrew1975 wrote:
It isn't really monitored. Utah has many dumb laws, such as it is technically illegal to not drink milk, you cant whale here either

There is a lactose intolerance joke there somewhere!

indeed, I would be in jail if it was enforced

but hey, they might start passing out free dakka soon, so I don't really have a problem.

**Mannahnin**

I've barely any shooting experience, and I love the M1911. If any pistol deserves to be a "State firearm", it does.

K_K- No kidding. The .45 is a continuing testament to how bad-MFing-ass Filipinos are. It's like a hundred year old Manny Paquiao who never ages and just won't stop punching.

**TheH2Oelement**

Could someone explain the whole Filipino thing?

**Requia**

Andrew1975 wrote:
TheH2Oelement wrote:This Is why I love my state ^_^ full of fun people.

we also apparently have an abnormally huge consumption of porn

I thought porn was illegal in Utah. Or is that dancing? I gotta be able to cut loose. FOOTLOOSE.

Flying rats known as seagulls infest the great salt lake. They have a special place in the Mormon religion because flying rats saved the early settlers from a grasshopper related death.

I read this too quickly and actually imagined real flying rats (not bats) eating grasshoppers. Its not so far fetched those wacky Mormons and their invisible tablets and special glasses.

Porn is legal in Utah (the law against it was overturned, on the grounds that since Utah really has one of the highest internet porn usage rates in the country the people of Utah can't really be against it in the vast majority, a requirement for obscenity law).

It is however, still illegal to dance after 2AM.

Also, this is Utah. The Democrats here didn't try to block this bill, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if it was their idea.

**Andrew1975**

Porn is legal in Utah (the law against it was overturned, on the grounds that since Utah really has one of the highest internet porn usage rates in the country the people of Utah can't really be against it in the vast majority, a requirement for obscenity law).

So in that case is "whaling" legal now? Kind of makes legal porn obsolete, no?

Could someone explain the whole Filipino thing?

.22s and .38s had the same effect on Hopped up Filipinos as the mosquitoes that infest that country. None. So along comes the .45 and that's the story.

**TheH2Oelement**

Andrew1975 wrote:
Porn is legal in Utah (the law against it was overturned, on the grounds that since Utah really has one of the highest internet porn usage rates in the country the people of Utah can't really be against it in the vast majority, a requirement for obscenity law).

So in that case is "whaling" legal now? Kind of makes legal porn obsolete, no?

Could someone explain the whole Filipino thing?

.22s and .38s had the same effect on Hopped up Filipinos as the mosquitoes that infest that country. None. So along comes the .45 and that's the story.

I mean the literal term of whaling, as in hunting sea mammals.

**Andrew1975**

TheH2Oelement wrote:
Andrew1975 wrote:
Porn is legal in Utah (the law against it was overturned, on the grounds that since Utah really has one of the highest internet porn usage rates in the country the people of Utah can't really be against it in the vast majority, a requirement for obscenity law).

So in that case is "whaling" legal now? Kind of makes legal porn obsolete, no?

Could someone explain the whole Filipino thing?

.22s and .38s had the same effect on Hopped up Filipinos as the mosquitoes that infest that country. None. So along comes the .45 and that's the story.

I mean the literal term of whaling, as in hunting sea mammals.

Wait......What....Not....Really? Is that even an issue in Utah? Where were there ever whales in Utah? The Great Salt Lake? Do they hang out with the flying rats? Can you only see them with magic glasses? Or is this some hallucination brought on by wearing the magic underpants?

Sorry if you are a Mormon, I tell Jesus jokes all the time and I'm Catholic. No offense meant......but really?

Edit: you know what never mind just looked up a site I haven't looked at in a decade http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/

In my home state of Ohio its legal to hunt whales, but not on Sunday. Who the feth was passing all these whale laws in places where there are no whales. Did whales at one time run rampant throughout the US because I have never heard of this. I mean we barley have fish in Lake Erie!

**schadenfreude**

Kid_Kyoto wrote:"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."

Not mentioned: because Filipinos are too dang tough for anything less.

Iraqis and Afghanis are also too dang tough for anything less.

Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

When the military switched over from the 1911 to 9mm the decision was made using statistics gathered from police shootings that show that 9mm hollow points have adequate stopping power. The study was fundamentally flawed because it used hollow point ammunition, and our military does not use hollow points because it would be a violation of the Geneva convention. A 38 cal hollow point or 9mm hollow point will drop people just fine, but if military ammunition is used in the same guns the dropping power is not adequate.

The sad truth is the decision to phase out he 1911 for 9mm pistols is repeating the exact same mistake we made 100 years ago, and it is literally killing our soldiers and marines. We have the most advanced and well funded military the world has ever seen, but switching back to a 100 year old firearm design would actually be an improvement over what are troops are currently using.

**Kilkrazy**

What about a 10mm? They are supposed to be pretty good.

Back on topic, why limit a state to a designated firearm?

I think it would be awesome if a state had a designated cluster bomb, or chemical weapon, something like that.

**schadenfreude**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Back on topic, why limit a state to a designated firearm?

Browning was born in Utah

**Requia**

Kilkrazy wrote:What about a 10mm? They are supposed to be pretty good.

Back on topic, why limit a state to a designated firearm?

I think it would be awesome if a state had a designated cluster bomb, or chemical weapon, something like that.

Utahans don't really own many cluster bombs or chemical weapons.

**Kilkrazy**

I meant other states could have an official cluster bomb, etc.

Nevada could have a state naval artillery shell, because the Hawthorne naval ammunition store was established there in 1930, so there is a long association between the state and 16-inch shells.

California would probably get most of the aerospace honours, but there are other opportunities.

For example, Michigan could have the Sherman tank as its state tank, because over 20,000 of them were built at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant during WW2.

**Frazzled**

Mr. Burning wrote:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12792633

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."

State Bird - The Seagull - Is there much coastline around Utah?

Mad Mad State.

What are you some godless commie pinko Brit Librarian parking attendant? The Colt 1911 is one of the finest pistols ever made. You're just jealous you guys haven't made any decent pistols since your "Zulus are are in the valley sir!" Webley.

All true god fearing football watching heart attack at the age of 50 Americans love the Colt 1911.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Kilkrazy wrote:I meant other states could have an official cluster bomb, etc.

Nevada could have a state naval artillery shell, because the Hawthorne naval ammunition store was established there in 1930, so there is a long association between the state and 16-inch shells.

California would probably get most of the aerospace honours, but there are other opportunities.

For example, Michigan could have the Sherman tank as its state tank, because over 20,000 of them were built at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant during WW2.

Texas and Alabama have their own battleships. Does that work?

**Kilkrazy**

That's a good start.

**notprop**

Kilkrazy wrote:What about a 10mm? They are supposed to be pretty good.

Back on topic, why limit a state to a designated firearm?

I think it would be awesome if a state had a designated cluster bomb, or chemical weapon, something like that.

10mm you say....

Now that is a state weapon. Don't enter Utah without one.

**Frazzled**

Browning also developed the pump action for shotguns, and lots of machine guns, currently sending fire downrange at bad guys as we speak.

**SOFDC**

As a hobby-level gunsmith, Kudos to browning for his innovative designs...although ironically I don't care for the 1911 or the .45 ACP one whit, I am a fan of his belt feds...their somewhat more complicated than average mechanisms be danged. They're just a big ol block of unergonomic love and cuddles.