Brewer signs bill making Colt state gun

This undated file photo provided by the Texas State Historical Association shows a Colt Single Action Army Revolver dated to 1881. Arizona is considering making the handgun that was popular in the West in the late 19th century the state's official firearm, with almost half the state's lawmakers co-sponsoring a bill honoring the single-action Army revolver. (AP Photo/Texas State Historical Association via the Dallas Morning News)

Arizona is getting an official firearm — the Colt Single-Action Army revolver.

Gov. Jan Brewer on Thursday without comment signed a bill passed by the Legislature to designate the weapon as the state’s first official firearm.

Connecticut-based Colt had lobbied for the legislation.

Legislative supporters argued that the designation was appropriate because the revolver was widely used during Arizona territorial days.

Opponents said it was inappropriate to give the official designation to an out-of-state company’s commercial product.

Democratic Rep. Albert Hale also called the gun an instrument of destruction that was used against Native Americans.