Lawmaker: Colt Designation 'Disrespectful' to Native Americans

PHOENIX - A bill that would give Arizona an official state gun is in the hands of the governor -- but one lawmaker says signing it would be a huge mistake. He calls the Colt revolver a weapon of mass destruction.

Albert Hale, a Democratic State Representative, says the Colt was used to wipe out Native Americans. He says naming the Colt revolver the official state firearm is inappropriate.

But supporters say the gun is an important part of our state history.

For some people in Arizona, the Colt revolver holds historical significance. The gun was popular when the state formed. Plus, Arizona soon will celebrate 100 years as a state.

Others see the gun in a different view.

"For me, as a Native American and for other Native Americans, it didn't bring peace. It was a weapon of mass destruction," says Rep. Hale.

The state legislature passed a bill to make the gun the official state firearm, despite a passionate speech by Hale.

"Once they brought the guns, that was the instrument that was used to put them on reservations, to take everything that they owned: land, water, etcetera from them. That was at the point of that gun."

"Well there's certainly some truth to that," says David LaRue, who owns Legendary Guns in Phoenix.. "I think it was used by both sides. It was just who could get them and how they could use them. It was the gun of the Indian wars and it was used an awful lot during that period."

But still, he supports it as the official state gun.

"I think the whole problem with guns today is demonizing them. I think kids should learn of its historical history and relevance to where we are today."

State Senator Steve Smith is a sponsor of the bill.

"One would argue the white men themselves were instrumental weapons of mass destruction against the Native Americans. Should we not honor any white people? The fact of the matter is it was part of Arizona's history," says Smith.

"What you do there is you're taking that gun and saying we killed as these Native Americans and here we're going to rub it in your faces and it's a lot of disrespect," says Rep. Hale.

Critics argue state leaders have better ways to spend their time than pass this bill -- but Senator Steve Smith says this was one of the very last bills handled.

Related Story: Legislature Designates Colt as State Gun

BIG INTERVIEW | Rep. Hale joined us live to explain the Native American perspective on the bill.