SB 175-OFFICIAL STATE BOLT-ACTION RIFLE                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:19:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN announced  that the next order of business  was CS FOR                                                               
SENATE BILL NO. 175(STA), "An  Act designating the official state                                                               
bolt-action rifle."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:19:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ERIC  HOLLEN,  Staff,  Senator Charlie  Huggins,  presented  CSSB                                                               
175(STA) on behalf of Senator  Huggins, prime sponsor.  He stated                                                               
that  under the  proposed  legislation,  the Winchester  pre-1964                                                               
model 70 would  become the official state bolt-action  rifle.  He                                                               
indicated that  the proposed bill  was inspired by  a constituent                                                               
of  Senator Huggins,  Jack O'Connor,  a writer  for Outdoor  Life                                                             
Magazine, who called the gun "the rifleman's rifle."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. HOLLEN said CSSB 175(STA)  would support the Second Amendment                                                               
to the  Constitution of  the United  States, which  "Alaska holds                                                               
dear."   He  related that  the  Winchester pre-1964  model 70  is                                                               
chambered  in 18  calibers, from  .22 Hornet  to .448  Winchester                                                               
Magnum.   He  said  there are  two  versions of  the  gun:   .338                                                               
Winchester Magnum  and .375  H&H Magnum,  which he  indicated are                                                               
both designated  "The Alaskan."   He said the varied  calibers of                                                               
the  Winchester pre-1964  model 70  make it  popular with  Alaska                                                               
outdoors people.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:21:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. HOLLEN, in response to  Chair Lynn, offered his understanding                                                               
that the  Winchester pre-1964  Model 70  first appeared  in 1934,                                                               
but was not manufactured for public sale until 1936.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:21:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN  asked if  there may be  any problem  with designating                                                               
one manufacturer's rifle over another.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. HOLLEN said he does not think  so.  He added that the aspects                                                               
of the  Winchester pre-1964 Model  70 made it "very  accurate off                                                               
the  shelf,"  and he  opined  that  the firearm  would  represent                                                               
Alaska well.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN clarified  his concern was about whether  there may be                                                               
potential  problems in  designating one  commercial product  over                                                               
another.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. HOLLEN answered not to his knowledge.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:23:28 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER  moved  to  report CSSB  175(STA)  out  of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
zero fiscal  note.  There  being no objection, CSSB  175(STA) was                                                               
reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.