Independent:
It's hardly the most sensitive timing, given recent events in neighbouring Arizona, but politicians in the God-fearing, gun-loving State of Utah are set to pass landmark legislation that will make an automatic pistol their official "state firearm".
The Browning M1911, which was invented exactly 100 years ago in Ogden, just north of Salt Lake City, will become the 25th "state symbol", joining such items as a tree, a folk dance, and a cooking pot (the Dutch oven) on the list of things supposed to reflect the best of the history, geography and culture of Utah.
Supporters of the move, led by the Republican lawmaker Carl Wimmer, said they hoped to honour the memory of John M. Browning, the founder of the gun-making firm. Thanks to the success of the M1911, his business has become world famous, growing over the decades into one of the region's most valuable employers.
"This pistol is Utah," declared Mr Wimmer, brandishing one of the pistols before local journalists. "Its history is emblazoned on our state." His initiative is now expected to sail through the highly conservative state's House of Representatives in the coming weeks.
John M Browning, whose father Jonathan was one of the Mormon pioneers who first settled in Utah, has played an intrinsic role in protecting the Constitution of the United States, Mr Wimmer argued. "He invented a firearm that has defended American values and the traditions of this country for 100 years," he said.
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That is the pistol I carried in Vietnam. It is a reliable weapon whose most important trait is stopping power. It was developed because existing pistols were inadequate in stopping the charge of some Philippine rebels. The 45 did the job. This is just the kind of thing that makes liberal writers like those at the Independent wet their pants and they do seem to wet themselves later in the article.
Image via Wikipedia
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