Legislature designates Colt as state gun

Arizona lawmakers have approved a bill to recognize a Colt revolver as the state’s official firearm.

The measure won final legislative approval before the session adjourned early Wednesday morning and goes to Gov. Jan Brewer.

The House had rejected the bill earlier in the all-night session but later reconsidered its action and passed it.

Connecticut-based Colt had lobbied to have the official status for the company’s Single-Action Army revolver.

Democratic Rep. Albert Hale, of Window Rock, called it an instrument of destruction. He implored lawmakers to respect American Indians who lived in what is now Arizona before it became a U.S. territory and later a state.

Republican Rep. John Kavanagh, of Fountain Hills, says the designation is appropriate for the revolver, because it was widely used during Arizona territorial days.