LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Republican Party of Arkansas presented keynote Speaker Sarah Palin with an engraved Henry Repeating Arms Big Boy 44 Magnum rifle last night at their fundraising event at the Verizon Arena in Little Rock. The rifle was personalized with serial number PALIN-001, the brass receiver was inscribed with ‘Presented to Sarah Palin - February 16, 2010 -Republican Party of Arkansas’ and the Republican Party of Arkansas’ logo was carved into the buttstock.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100217/NY56429-a )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100217/NY56429-b )

Palin began her keynote speech in front of a cheering crowd of 5,000 by thanking the Republican Party of Arkansas for the beautiful rifle, noting that she even called her son Track to tell him about it, and stated, “It’s great to be in a state where it’s okay to cling to your guns and religion.”

President Lincoln was presented with a Henry rifle during his presidency. It hangs in The Smithsonian and has become a priceless national treasure.

About Henry Repeating Arms

Henry Repeating Arms is one of the country’s leading rifle manufacturers. Their legendary name dates back to 1860 when Benjamin Tyler Henry invented and patented the first practical repeating rifle during the Civil War. It became known as the "gun you could load on Sunday and shoot all week long.” Henry rifles went on to play a significant role in the frontier days of the American West and soon became one of the most legendary, respected and sought after rifles in the history of firearms. The company’s primary manufacturing facility is in Bayonne, New Jersey and they have a second facility in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

SOURCE Henry Repeating Arms