The Tampa Tribune reports:
The state Senate this week opened discussions on … replica bull testicles dangling from the back bumpers of vehicles. One senator wants the owners of such swaying baubles to be subject to a $60 fine.
Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, sparked the discussion in the august senate chambers this week. Senators tried not to get too graphic, as a bunch of school children watched from the gallery….
Sen. Victor Crist, a Republican whose district covers part of Hillsborough and Pasco counties, was flabbergasted that the discussion took place at all.
“It was a waste of time,” he said this morning. “We have better things to do than sit down and listen to a debate on whether or not someone should be allowed to hang an ornament on their trailer hitch or not.
“To me,” he said, “It’s a First Amendment right of personal expression as long as it’s not rude, crude or lewd, and it has not been proven to be that.” …
The vehicle accessory has spawned a couple of very successful Internet mail order businesses. Your Nutz, a California company, boasts colors including sun-kissed sienna, dark forest green and even electric blue lighted sets that cast an eerie glow….
“Every time this happens,” [David Ham, founder and owner of Your Nutz] said, talking of moves to ban the product, “it drives my sales through the roof. I can’t thank this lawmaker enough. I’m considering contributing to these guys who are coming up with these bills.” …
“Florida is not the first state to do this,” [BullsBalls owner John Saller] said. Virginia and New Jersey legislators have tried similar sanctions, and so far all attempts to reel in the replicas have failed, he said.
Oh, and let’s praise the Internet for this: “All that is thanks to the Internet, [Ham] said. ‘If it wasn’t for the Internet,’ he said, ‘I wouldn’t have started this business, and there would not be a testicle industry.'” Another way technology makes the world better.
Thanks to Brian Smith for the pointer.