Update: AZ Gov Brewer Makes Colt Revolver Official State Gun

PHOENIX (The Blaze/AP) -- Arizona's governor has signed a bill designating the Colt Single-Action Army revolver as the state's first official firearm.

Gov. Jan Brewer signed the bill without comment on Thursday. There was speculation at one point that she might veto the bill.

Opponents say it was inappropriate to give the official designation to an out-of-state company's commercial product. Colt is based in Connecticut.

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

KPHO-TV reports on the detractors:

The bill had caused some controversy in the state House after a Navajo legislator called it an instrument of destruction.

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.

[...]

"Another day, another waste of taxpayers' time and money at the state capitol. My family owns guns, and I'm embarrassed that state government chose to spend hours on a state gun -- even brought it back on reconsideration after it was defeated -- instead of changing one word in statute to ensure 20,000 Arizonans' jobless aid isn't cut off during tough times," said House Minority Whip Anna Tovar.

"This is absolutely ridiculous and offensive, and it's even more humiliating that the weapon they chose isn't even manufactured in Arizona. It's time for a change," she said.

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