By Karim Hammam
Idaho voters will decide on an official state gun in the upcoming general election, with an advisory question on the ballot asking them to select from six historic firearms. The measure, supported by Republican lawmakers, aims to commemorate the role of firearms in the state's history and could also boost voter turnout.
Ballot measure background
Lawmakers placed the question on the ballot this year, citing muskets, rifles and revolvers as tools that powered westward expansion. Idaho ranks fourth nationally in gun ownership, with about 60 percent of residents possessing firearms, according to Ammo.com. The state is also one of five that still permits execution by firing squad.
Political motivation
Republican state Rep. Jason Monks said the measure could motivate voters during an election year marked by dampened Republican enthusiasm amid frustration over the cost of living and the war in Iran. "Turnout is always important," Monks told The Idaho Capital Sun.
Criticism and alternatives
Critics argue none of the six firearms have a significant place in Idaho history. Neil Goodfellow, a board member of the Idaho State Rifle & Pistol Association, said many voters will not know which to choose. Online commenters have suggested writing in "potato gun," referencing the state's official vegetable. Some say the measure reflects America's obsession with guns, while a majority of U.S. voters support stricter gun laws, according to Gallup.
Six candidate firearms
The ballot lists the Winchester Model 1894 lever-action rifle, the Winchester Model 1873 known as the "gun that won the west," the 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver dubbed the "peacemaker," the Colt M1911 .45 automatic pistol, the M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle, and the Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle. Each has historical ties to U.S. military, law enforcement, or frontier life.
Potential outcome
If lawmakers adopt the winning firearm, Idaho would join about a dozen states with official state guns, including Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Alaska.
