The Arizona House early Wednesday narrowly rejected a bill to recognize Connecticut’s historic Colt revolver as the state’s official firearm after a Navajo legislator called it an instrument of destruction, The Associated Press reports.
West Hartford-based Colt had lobbied to have the official status for the company’s Single-Action Army revolver.
Democratic Rep. Albert Hale of Window Rock implored fellow lawmakers to respect Native Americans 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 said the designation is appropriate for the revolver because it was widely used during Arizona territorial days.
The bill has been approved by the Senate and now goes to Gov. Jan Brewer.
