# Idaho: State Gun **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 4, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444 "2026-11-04T22:42:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kitten\_Mitten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b782af/32.png) [@Kitten\_Mitten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitten_Mitten)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/1 "2026-11-04T22:42:25Z")
What the holy heck is it with Idahoans??? They had an advisory question on the ballot to choose a STATE GUN!!! There were 6 choices! My BF said: “Wild West… They ain’t right.” ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/2 "2026-11-04T22:53:40Z")
Just for laughs, I would have liked to have seen someone put a 203mm howitzer on the ballot option list. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/3 "2026-11-04T23:07:18Z")
As discussed in another thread 10 US states already have state guns. Idaho is now #11. Why they’re so late to the party is the better question. Also as discussed elsewhere, these meaningless raw meat initiatives are entirely about goosing RW turnout. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/4 "2026-11-04T23:07:31Z")
That makes them the 11th. Going back to 2011. Latecomers. > **[List of U.S. state firearms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_firearms)** > > A state firearm has been designated by 11 states in the United States: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Utah, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, and Missouri. Utah was the first U.S. state to designate an official state firearm in March 2011. In April 2026, the Idaho Legislature unanimously approved House Bill 932, placing a non‑binding advisory question on the official state gun on the November 2026 general election ballot. But _of course_ @LSLGuy ninjas me. Quicker on the draw, that guy. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/5 "2026-11-04T23:11:14Z")
Your large caliber cite surely defeats my puny inadequate I’m first armor. Bang! I’m dead. 🤪 On a more serious note, your cite shows that 8 states’ choices are Wild West era historical firearms. Utah picked a WW-I era pistol still in wide use today. And Tennessee went for a modern invention military / civilian large bore rifle much beloved by the ammosexual brigade. In their defense it is designed & produced in TN. Idaho had 3 Wild West era choices and 3 WW-I - WW-II era choices. I don’t know which gun won. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/6 "2026-11-04T23:14:53Z")
The most amazing thing about this ridiculousness is that the AR-15 wasn’t one of the options. That is the gun that is idolized and fetishized around these parts (I live in the “North Idaho” region - I also hate “North Idaho”). ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/7 "2026-11-04T23:26:37Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Just for laughs, I would have liked to have seen someone put a 203mm howitzer on the ballot option list. Or some other silly “gun.” (I live here) The temptation was strong to do so, but writing in something would invalidate one’s entire ballot. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/8 "2026-11-04T23:32:34Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Utah picked a WW-I era pistol still in wide use today. Which was the brainchild and masterpiece of a Utah legend: John Moses Browning. Very representative of Utah’s place in firearms history. (At least, firearms that are both legendary and the kind you want the public to be aware of. Civilians don’t need to linger on the Browning machine guns or the BAR, for instance.) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/9 "2026-11-04T23:38:29Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > On a more serious note, your cite shows that 8 states’ choices are Wild West era historical firearms. Not quite: Kentucky and Pennsylvania both chose pre-Revolutionary War era historical firearms. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/10 "2026-11-04T23:38:35Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Idaho had 3 Wild West era choices and 3 WW-I - WW-II era choices. I don’t know which gun won. The one that won the west AKA was known for being used to kill native Americans: > **[Idaho voters nominate lever-action rifle ‘that Won the West’ to be state’s...](https://idahocapitalsun.com/2026/11/04/idaho-voters-nominate-lever-action-rifle-that-won-the-west-to-be-states-official-gun/)** > > In a non-binding vote, Idaho voters nominated a lever-action rifle, dubbed the “Gun that Won the West” to be the state’s official gun. P.S. Am I missing something? Does won the west have another interpretation? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/11 "2026-11-04T23:45:42Z")
Sure, it’s a bit silly, but besides the official gun all states have silly official things. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/12 "2026-11-05T00:17:50Z")
I’m disappointed in you people. Not one of you suggested “potato” as the State Gun. ---
**Author:** ![ThisOneGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@ThisOneGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisOneGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/13 "2026-11-05T00:32:44Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > all states have silly official things. In addition to the state gun, Utah also has a state dinosaur AND a state fossil (which is a different dinosaur). ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/14 "2026-11-05T00:33:15Z")
You weren’t allowed a write in choice. I think they did this just to try and draw in more Republicans to the mid-terms. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/15 "2026-11-05T00:38:24Z")
I’d have guessed “the one Hemingway shot himself with.” ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/16 "2026-11-05T00:40:43Z")
**Barely Moderating:** This thread is reading a lot more like a mild rant than an actual P&E discussion of the ballot measure and it’s merits (if any). I’ve DM’d the OP for input, but as it stands there’s a good chance of moving it to the Pit. No warnings or notes directed **at** anyone, just a cautionary mention. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/17 "2026-11-05T00:58:51Z")
Here is a legal humor website which has a dedicated series of articles for things such as official state guns: **[Official State Crap – Lowering the Bar](https://www.loweringthebar.net/category/series/official-state-crap)**. If one wants a primer on pointless declarations of Official State [Whatever], this is a darn good, and fun, place to start. Note there are 4 pages of links to more pages of official state crap. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/18 "2026-11-05T01:09:57Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Not quite: Kentucky and Pennsylvania both chose pre-Revolutionary War era historical firearms So they are really Commonwealth Guns. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/19 "2026-11-05T02:21:18Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The one that won the west AKA was known for being used to kill native Americans: Not so much. The US never issued that gun for use in the Indian wars period. It was the Springfield Model 1873/1884, and similar. I suppose a few settlers might have defended themselves with a Winchester. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444/20 "2026-11-05T02:29:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > > > The one that won the west AKA was known for being used to kill native Americans: > > Not so much. The US never issued that gun for use in the Indian wars period. Well, then, who lost when the gun won the west? Buffalos? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idaho-state-gun/1034444.md?page=2)