Adding guns to the Utah flag

In late fall the Utah State Flag Task Force decides upon a final flag design to bring to the Utah Legislature. October fifth is the final deadline for public feedback. To represent Utah correctly as a state, we must have firearms on this new flag. The Utah State Flag Task force has made a website for the movement of a new Utah flag. On this website (flag.utah.gov), what makes a good flag design is explained in five principles. Adding firearms to the Utah flag would fulfill all of these principles.

1. Keep it simple. Create a design that anyone can draw from memory.
2. Use meaningful symbolism. Images, colors should relate to symbols.
3. Use basic colors. Draw from the standard color set.
4. No lettering or seals. Writing can’t be read at a distance.
5. Be distinctive. What would make Utah’s flag stand out?

(Principles from flag.utah.gov, from the North American Vexillologist Association.)

Principle 1 – Keep it simple. Create a design that anyone can draw from memory.

The new flag must be simple and easy to remember, after interviewing Juan Salazar we can clearly see that Utah’s current flag design is not very simple or easy to recall from memory. In this interview about Utah’s flag I asked “Do you remember what the Utah flag looks like?” Juan answered “Um, it has a beehive in the middle, doesn’t it?.” I then asked “What color is the Utah flag?” Juan replied “blue.” It is apparent from this interview that our current flag is not up to par. Several key details of the Utah flag were left out: the bald eagle, the two flag poles holding the US flag, the pieces of text on the flag, and the gold ring around the state seal. Many of the colors on the flag were also left out: brown, white, red, and blue. Very few countries’ flags have firearms on them, if Utah’s flag were to become one of few it would be easy to recognise and recall.

Principle 2 – Use meaningful symbolism. Images, colors should relate to symbols.

Firearms are symbolic to defense and safety. When asked what object best symbolizes defense Juan replies “Defense would have to be any sort of weapon… for modern times just a gun.” Guns are a major symbol representing Utah in several ways, according to wildlife.utah.gov, “Utah has some of the best hunting in the country, with a variety of species and opportunities available.” Guns represent the defense and security of Utah while also representing the great hunting available. The only image on the current Utah flag that properly represents Utah is the beehive which represents “…the Utah community as each person in Utah works together to support and help one another and to create a successful industry.” – utahstatecapitol.utah.gov We must have firearms on the Utah State flag.

Principle 3 – Use basic colors. Draw from the standard color set.

This principle is easily fulfilled with firearms, firearms can be painted any color to match the standard color set. On flag.utah.gov the recommended colors for Utah’s next flag are shown as blue, gold, orange, red, and white. If you darken any one of these colors fully you will get black, the color of most firearms.

Principle 4 – No lettering or seals. Writing can’t be read at a distance.

Utah’s current flag does not follow this principle, fundamentally, the Utah state flag is just the Utah state seal which includes writing unable to be seen at a distance. Instead of lettering or seals, firearms should be applied. Firearms can be seen and easily identified at a distance, many people have experience with guns, according to deseret.com, “A new Deseret News/Hinckley institute of Politics poll of registered Utah voters found 53% have a gun in their home…” This poll found that over half of registered Utah voters have a gun in their home, this just shows how big guns are in Utah and how most people will be able to easily identify them.

Principle 5 – Be distinctive. What would make Utah’s flag stand out?

Firearms would easily make Utah’s flag stand out, very few US state flags currently have firearms. No US state flags have firearms clearly visible. The firearms must take up most of the new flag so they can be properly seen at a distance. Utah as a state wants to stand out and adding clearly visible firearms to the flag would achieve this. When asked if adding firearms to the Utah state flag would make it stand out, Juan replied saying “Yes, I feel like it would stand out a lot.”