Idaho has long celebrated its heritage with state symbols, such as the mountain bluebird and “Here We Have Idaho” as its state song. The voters recently added another symbol to this list by selecting an official state gun. The chosen firearm is the Winchester Model 1873, often referred to as “the Gun That Won the West.”
A study from Rand in 2020 found that around 60% of Idaho households own guns. Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control advocacy group, ranks Idaho last regarding gun legislation, citing high rates of gun suicides and firearm ownership as concerns.
State House Majority Leader Jason Monks motivated this decision, tying the selection to the country’s history and its upcoming 250th anniversary. Monks remarked, “Obviously, without guns, there would be no America. We’d still be a British colony.”
Idaho joins the ranks of 10 other states that have designated official state guns. Examples include Texas with its rare Colt Walker revolver and Missouri with its Hawken rifle, both iconic in the American West’s history.
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