It would no longer be a crime in Florida to carry a concealed slungshot under a bill that won its first committee approval.
No, not a slingshot, but a slungshot, and Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, was asked to explain the difference Monday when presenting his bill (SB 1000) before the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
A slungshot is a maritime tool — a rope with a weight that’s wrapped in a knot called a monkey fist. They’ve traditionally been used to help sailors toss lines, but were outlawed after they became a popular weapon among 19th-century street gangs.
At risk of being charged with a first-degree misdemeanor, Hays pulled a small slungshot from his pocket to demonstrate, slowly spinning it around.
A few jokes followed before the bill was approved unanimously.
