Idaho Voters Name Winchester Model 1873 as State’s Official Gun in Non-Binding Ballot Measure
Idaho voters have nominated a lever-action rifle, dubbed the Gun that Won the West,
to become the state’s official firearm following Tuesday’s general election, according to unofficial results from the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office. The Winchester Model 1873 captured the backing of about 31% of voters, pulling in the highest share of any firearm on a specialized advisory ballot that featured six historic weapon options across all 44 counties.
The statewide poll sets the stage for the Idaho Legislature to potentially join 10 other states that already designate official state firearms. Idaho currently maintains a Republican supermajority and strong legislative protections for firearm ownership, including laws that do not require permits for concealed carry within city limits. House Bill 932, approved by a unanimous vote in the Legislature, placed the advisory question on the ballot.
How the Six Historic Firearms Fared With Voters
None of the six firearms placed on the ballot managed to secure a majority vote from the electorate. According to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office, the final tally for each nominated firearm reflects a diverse range of preferences among historic arms:
- Winchester Model 1873 (.44-40): 31.1% of the vote (164,394 votes)
- Winchester Model 1894 (.30-30): 25.32% of the vote (133,859 votes)
- 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver, or
Peacemaker,
(.45 Colt): 15.26% of the vote (80,699 votes) - Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle (.30-06): 12.45% of the vote (65,818 votes)
- Colt M1911 .45 automatic Colt pistol (.45 ACP): 8.78% of the vote (46,405 votes)
- M1 Garand rifle (.30-06): 7.09% of the vote (37,500 votes)
Unlike official state symbols in other regions, such as Utah’s state symbols, none of the firearms on Idaho’s ballot possess developmental ties to the state. If the legislature formally adopts the recommendation, the weapon will join Idaho’s established roster of official designations, which currently features the syringa as the state flower, the star garnet as the state gem, and the Idaho giant salamander as the state amphibian, as outlined by the Idaho Secretary of State.
Republican Leader Pushed Ballot Question to Boost Midterm Turnout
House Majority Leader Jason Monks, a Republican from Meridian, explained in an interview prior to the election that he pushed to put the question on the ballot to help drum up voter participation during a midterm cycle. Even so, the advisory question ultimately drew the lowest share of ballots cast among all statewide ballot measures. Out of more than 731,000 citizens who turned out to the polls, roughly 70% participated in the state gun race.
Voter engagement proved significantly higher on other high-profile measures. Nearly 99% of participating voters cast a ballot on Proposition 1, a citizen initiative that sought to repeal Idaho’s near-total abortion ban, which voters ultimately rejected. About 97% of electors weighed in on two constitutional amendments: a successful measure declaring English as the state’s official language, and a failed initiative that would have stripped voters of their powers to legalize marijuana and other substances.
Overall midterm turnout reached approximately 69% of registered voters. State election officials anticipate that this percentage will decline slightly as they complete the processing of individuals who registered to vote on Election Day.
Idaho voters chose the Winchester Model 1873 as its state gun, according to the Associated Press. https://t.co/6GdV5suYKf
Earlier coverage: Idaho Voters Choose Winchester Model 1873 as Official State Gun
Idaho voters preferred the Winchester Model 1873 "Gun that Won the West" (~31%) in the nonbinding advisory question. Legislature must still act to make it official. States with official firearms: Alaska: pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 Arizona: Colt Single Action Army Arkansas:…
