Idaho voters will choose a favorite among six historic firearms on Election Day, with the results serving as an advisory vote to guide state lawmakers as they decide on an official state firearm.
The ballot question lists six guns, mixing frontier icons with military classics:
- 1873 Single Action Army Revolver Colt .45
- Winchester Model 1894 (.30-30)
- Winchester Model 1873, nicknamed the “Gun That Won the West”
- M1 Garand
- Colt Model 1911 .45
- Remington 700 Bolt Action 30-06
Gun Talk Radio host Tom Gresham shared a photo of the ballot question on social media, drawing attention to the unusual measure.
Ryan Horsley, general manager of Red’s Trading Post, the oldest gun store in Idaho, backed the idea of adding a state firearm to the list of official state symbols.
“We’ve got a state bird. We’ve got state flower. Why not have a state firearm?”
Horsley said each of the six guns earned its place on the ballot through lasting influence on firearm design.
“Each of these firearms … were, I mean, absolutely innovative for their time and they’re still being made today by either different companies, and you’ll have maybe evolved or whatever and so they’ve all stood the test of time.”
The vote will not bind the legislature, but it gives lawmakers a direct read on which firearm Idahoans want recognized as part of their state’s identity.
