Idaho is set to vote on an official state gun this election

Like every other U.S. state, Idaho has an official flower, tree and bird. Soon, it could have an official gun, too.On Election Day, voters across the state will face a question on the ballot, asking them to choose between six firearms, including a semi-automatic pistol and a rifle dubbed the “gun that won the west.” The results will guide lawmakers in selecting an official state gun.The effort is viewed by officials as an appropriate way to commemorate the role that bullets and steel played in the state’s history. Muskets, rifles and revolvers “powered westward expansion, enabling pioneers to hunt, defend families, and tame the frontier,” lawmakers wrote in a bill this year that provided for the ballot measure.Guns certainly hold a prominent place in the state, where a majority of voters are Republican. Idaho ranks fourth in overall gun ownership, with 60 percent of residents possessing firearms, according to Ammo.com. It is one of just five states that still permits execution by firing squad.But, the ballot question might also serve another purpose. It could motivate voters to get to the polls during an election year marked by dampened Republican enthusiasm — amid frustration over the cost of living and the war in Iran.Idaho is set to vote on an official state gun in the upcoming elections. The effort is viewed by officials as an appropriate way to commemorate the role that bullets and steel played in the state’s history (Getty/iStock)“Turnout is always important,” Republican state Rep. Jason Monks, who supported the ballot question, told The Idaho Capital Sun. “When you have a lot of voter apathy, I think we don’t get as good of results as we could if we had an informed electorate that was actually out and voting.”The measure is not without its critics, though.“None of [the six guns] really have a significant place in the history of Idaho,” Neil Goodfellow, a board member of the Idaho State Rifle & Pistol Association, told The Associated Press. “My suspicion is a lot of folks are not going to have a clue” which to choose.Many online commenters in Idaho-focused groups have suggested writing in “potato gun,” a nod to the state’s official vegetable and one of its most recognizable emblems. Some critics say the measure reflects an obsession with guns in America, which leads the world in both civilian gun ownership and mass shootings, and where a majority of voters support stricter gun laws, according to Gallup.“I don’t think you can make everybody always happy,” Monks said. “Idaho is a very gun-friendly state, and that it is an important part of our culture in many aspects.”If lawmakers move forward with the measure, Idaho would join about a dozen states that have chosen official state guns, including Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Alaska.Here are the six candidates to become the Gem State’s de jure gun:Winchester Model 1894 The Winchester Model 1894 is considered one of the most popular hunting rifles (Idaho.gov)The Winchester Model 1894, a lever-action repeating rifle, was first manufactured in the late 19th century. It is known as one of the most popular hunting rifles.The 1 millionth model was presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. The 2-millionth model was given to President Dwight Eisenhower in 1953, according to the magazine American Rifleman.Initially, the rifle was produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, followed by the U.S. Repeating Arms, which stopped making the gun in 2006. A company in Japan is still manufacturing reproductions.Winchester Model 1893The rifle earned the nickname the ‘gun that won the west’ (Idaho.gov)A second Winchester rifle is also on the ballot in Idaho; this one was introduced in 1873.The weapon earned the nickname the “gun that won the west” due to its association with westward expansion across North America in the 19th and 20th centuries.Upwards of 700,000 were manufactured between 1873 and 1916, when production ceased, according to the National Park Service.1873 Colt Single Action Army RevolverUsed by members of the US military, the revolver was dubbed the ‘peacemaker’ (Idaho.gov)The 1873 Colt single-action revolver was designed for the U.S. government by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, now known as Colt’s Manufacturing Company. It was issued to members of the U.S. Army between 1873 and 1892, though law enforcement, ranchers and outlaws also snapped it up. The weapon was offered in upwards of 30 different calibers.Dubbed “peacemaker,” the revolver is still in production today.Colt M1911 .45 automatic Colt pistolThe Colt M1911 is used in shooting competitions and as a concealed carry weapon (Idaho.gov)The Colt M1911 was adopted by the U.S. military in the early 20th century, and used as a sidearm by service members until 1985. In an early test, 6,000 rounds of ammunition were fired through one pistol over the course of two days. Not a single malfunction was recorded, according to the National Rifle Association.Civilians still use it in shooting competitions and as a concealed carry weapon.M1 Garand rifleGeorge Patton described the M1 Garand as ‘the greatest battle implement ever devised’ (Idaho.gov)Named after Canadian-born designer John C. Garand, the M1 Garand is a semi-automatic, gas operated rifle. It was used by U.S. service members in both the Korean War and World War II, during which over 5 million units were manufactured. U.S. Army General George Patton once described it as “the greatest battle implement ever devised.”Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifleThe Remington Model 700 rifle is one of the most popular bolt-action rifles in history (Idaho.gov)Introduced in 1962, the Remington Model 700 rifle is one of the most popular bolt-action rifles in history. It has been used by both hunters, target-shooters and snipers in the U.S. military.The model is available in a number of stock, barrel and caliber combinations.Vicki Weaver was killed with a Model 700 during the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff in northern Idaho, according to the Department of Justice.