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Idaho voters will do more than pick leaders this Election Day. They’ll also be asked to pick an official “state gun” from six classic firearms. The question is advisory — meaning the Legislature still has to pass a law to make any choice official — but the vote tells a story about Idaho’s culture, politics, and the savvy of lawmakers who put the idea on the ballot.
What’s on the ballot and how it got there
The Legislature placed the advisory question on the statewide ballot via HB 932, which passed both chambers without recorded opposition and was signed by Governor Brad Little. Voters will choose from six nominees: the Winchester Model 1894, Winchester Model 1873, Colt Single Action Army “Peacemaker,” M1 Garand, Colt M1911, and the Remington Model 700. Rep. Jason Monks, the bill sponsor, said one goal was to drive turnout in a midterm-style election — a blunt, honest reason that actually makes sense in the world of politics.
Why this matters — more than novelty
Yes, a state gun sounds like a stunt. But symbols matter. States pick flowers, birds, even dinosaurs to tell a story about who they are. Idaho’s leaders want to declare what they stand for in a way voters can weigh in on directly. The vote is advisory, so it won’t change law by itself. That’s deliberate: lawmakers get public input, then they can decide whether to codify the result into state law.
Critics, the AR‑15 debate, and the cost whisperers
Not everyone is pleased. The Idaho Second Amendment Alliance complained the list left off the AR‑15 and called the choices “six safe guns” that won’t spark passion. Historians also note none of the six have a clear development tie to Idaho. Other critics grouse about the expense of extra ballot pages for a non‑binding question. Those are fair grumbles — but they miss the point. The Legislature sought a symbolic vote to engage voters and celebrate gun heritage without turning the ballot into a policy fight that would derail other issues on Election Day.
Bottom line: this is a small, loud expression of Idaho identity and Second Amendment pride. Conservatives should not shrink from it. If voters pick a favorite, the Legislature can then decide whether to make it official. Either way, the ballot question did its job: it put a simple, easily understood choice in front of the people and forced a conversation about heritage, rights, and turnout. Watch the returns on Election Night — and watch whether lawmakers have the backbone to follow the voters’ lead.
