Utah lawmaker ends push to honor gun maker on MLK Day

Utah lawmaker ends push to honor gun maker on MLK Day

Civil rights leaders and gun makers don't mix - at least that's the message one Utah lawmaker is getting loud and clear. "I'm getting threats from all over the country," says Republican Utah State Senator, Mark Madsen. Madsen says the threats and nasty emails began earlier this month, when he proposed a bill to create a state holiday for famous Utah gun maker, John M. Browning. He suggested the holiday be celebrated the same day that honors civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. The idea sparked outrage from those around the country and in Utah, where local civil rights leaders blasted Madsen, calling the plan insensitive. "Dr. King was assassinated. He didn't just die, he was assassinated by a man with a gun. To have a gun manufacturer [honored] on the holiday with Dr. King was inappropriate," says Utah NAACP President, Jeanetta Williams. Madsen, however, explains the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday was one of several existing holidays he and his bill's co-sponsors were considering, noting that creating a separate holiday to celebrate Browning would cost a lot of money. He also says MLK day stood out because it falls on the third Monday of January, near Browning's birthday - becoming an opportunity to honor two great men in American history. "There was certainly no offense ever intended. We don't want to be the cause of unwarranted criticism, or any kind of racial tension or misunderstanding," says Madsen. But racial tension over the MLK day isn't new to Utah. In 2000, the state became the last to recognize the holiday by name, formerly calling it Human Rights Day. And in 2008, the state amended its constitution to stop lawmakers from beginning their annual legislative session on the King holiday. In both cases, the Utah NAACP led the fight for change, and it appears the organization can claim victory in this latest battle. Madsen says he's now withdrawing MLK day as an option for the Browning state holiday. Instead, he's looking at other existing holidays, like Veterans Day or Labor Day. "We don't want to force a holiday where it's not wanted."