Utah State Legislature Salutes John M. Browning

Utah State Legislature Salutes John M. Browning

1911 pistol
1911 pistol was adopted by the US Army March 29 1911
Browning Firearms
Browning Firearms

Morgan, UT –-(Ammoland.com)- In recognition of his lasting contributions to the development of firearm design and the military defense of the United States, the Utah State Legislature has officially designated January 24, 2011 as John M. Browning Day.

A native of Ogden, Utah, John M. Browning is widely considered the world’s greatest firearms designer, and many of his gun designs remain popular around the globe to this day.

The official commemoration will take place on January 24th at the Utah State Capitol Rotunda in Salt Lake City. Planned activities throughout the day include a display of many rare, historic and unique Browning firearms and modern military aircraft. The public is invited to attend and there is no charge for the event.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert is scheduled to make a formal presentation of the resolution to Christopher Browning, the great grandson of John M. Browning, at the noon ceremony on the capitol steps. A fly-by of F16 fighters from Hill Air Force Base in Ogden is also planned for the noon hour (weather permitting).

Also on the agenda for the Utah State Legislature’s 2011 session is a resolution by Rep. Carl Wimmer (R-Salt Lake) designating the Browning-designed 1911 pistol as the Official Utah State Firearm.

2011 represents the 100th anniversary of the adoption of Browning’s 1911 .45 caliber automatic pistol by the US Army. After a full century of service this pistol design remains in active military use with US special operations forces and is more popular than ever among civilians, gun collectors, competitive shooters and law enforcement officers.

For more information on John M. Browning’s life and work, and to download a selection of historic photos, please visit these links: