Florida Removes Antique Slungshot Prohibition

Ammoland ^ | 3 April, 2016 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

A slungshot is a device that consists of a weight on the end of a line.  It was designed to aid in throwing a line from one place to another, such as in throwing a line from a boat to the dock.  A weight on the end of a line can also be used as a weapon.  A knot to secure a shot to the end of a line is a monkey’s fist.  Here is how one is made:
Link to video

Florida has eliminated their antiquated slungshot law.  The law was another of those “trendy” laws enacted without much thought, based on emotion and myth.  The item banned, essentially a weight on the end of a cord, is so common and easily made as to be unenforceable.    It is interesting that this reform occurs almost simultaneously with the Supreme Court confirming that “arms” under the Second Amendment are “all instruments that constitute bearable arms”.  From 14-10078 Caetano v. Massachusetts(pdf) :

The Court has held that “the Second Amendment extends, prima facie, to all instruments that constitute bearable arms, even those that were not in existence at the time of the founding,” District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U. S. 570, 582 (2008), and that this “Second Amendment right is fully applicable to the States,” McDonald v.Chicago, 561 U. S. 742, 750 (2010).

Slungshots are clearly “bearable arms”. From the bill, HB 4009, as enacted into law(pdf):

[marktwain]

In Matthew Bracken's technological thriller/ adventure novel, Castigo Cay, an improvised slungshot is used to great effect.

[citizen]

Castigo Cay, good book!

[Scrambler Bob]

M4L

[null and void]

The school policy handbook at Jefferson Davis Jr High school in Jacksonville, FL banned rubber bands as “lethal weapons”.

Not kidding.

Lethal.

[Lazamataz]

America is finished.

[fso301]

What about blackjacks and truncheons?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

You should see the list of items that the XIT ranch in Texas banned in the 1880s. A cowboy was defenseless with them!

[marktwain]

Lots of states ban them. Wisconsin’s concealed carry ban, enacted in 1877, as part of the post civil war bans on concealed weapons, designed to ensure that freed slaves were disarmed, originally included slungshot, and an exception for self defense.

Then next year, they removed all references to specific weapons, simply made it “dangerous weapons” and took out the exception for self defense.

[TroutStalker]

As kids a friend and I made a bola out of braided leather and l” lead balls. No one will get close when you are swinging one of those around.

[marktwain]

Bolas are very effective weapons. In Argentina, they are used to take down cattle and big game on the plains, from horseback.

The Eskimos used a version to hunt waterfowl.

[Delta 21]

Seeing how every single Navy and Coast Guard ship has dozens of these on board for passing lines from ship to shore......

Back in the day if you couldnt hit a 5 gal bucket with a 75” heaving line 8 times out of 10 you didnt make your small boat quals.

...and its called a ‘monkeys fist”.

[Delta 21]

...75 ft heaving line...

[DaveA37]

“its called a ‘monkeys fist”.......

Dang, ya beat me to it. :)

[Daffynition]

Gaucho bola.

[marktwain]

Monkey’s fist is noted in the excerpt.

[DUMBGRUNT]

A sailor friend had a couple of photos, where someone wasn’t paying attention; knocked him cold!

[marktwain]

How far were you from the 5 gallon bucket?

It does not seem easy to put a slungshot in one if it is at the end of a 75 ft line.

[Delta 21]

There were a few of us that were quite proficient.

Its good to see the stupid laws directly aimed at specific weapons and people are being done away with. You can make one of these with a rock and some rope and minimal knot tieing skills.

Same thing with a switch blade - just because I can open and use it with one hand made it illegal but a boot dagger of less than 3 inches isnt illegal and doesnt need any activation to be ready for use.

All laws made to ‘pile on’ additional charges/fines to increase incarceration times and the govt’s control over us when being charged with, when the charge for the actual crime committed should be sufficient.

[Delta 21]

Modern day military used a soft squishy rubber ball. Back in my day we used one made out of pure lead, and it was heavy. But thats what helped you get the distance. In rough seas on a 44' motor life boat on a SAR case, if you missed your first throw to the stranded vessel, you were chided until the next guy missed!

I dont recall the seas ever being this calm when I really had to throw one for real. In rough WX its hard to safely even get in this close :)

[Delta 21]

You just splice the weight right into the ‘fist, or make a loop and you can put a dog snap on it.