Why?

Some states have state flowers, state trees, and state animals. Hawaii's official state fish is the humuhimunukunukuapua'a.

New Mexico opted for an official state question, " Red or green?"

Nebraska's official soft drink is Kool-aid.

The  District of Columbia while not a state refuses to let that get in the way. Their city council chose an official dinosaur--capitalsaurus. 

According to those who know the choice is obvious. A bone from this dinosaur was initially discovered in 1898 by sewer workers. 

But in 2011 the state of Utah declared an official state gun. Within two years Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania followed.

Legislators in each state argued against the gun as a symbol-- noting the insensitivity of its selection.  Their voices were silenced by the majority.

Sad.