**Slinging and the Law — How Do You Handle It Where You Live?**

I’ve been doing some research into the legal side of slinging, and I’m curious how other slingers handle this in their own areas.

Here in Maryland, the laws concerning projectile weapons appear to be considerably stricter than I initially expected\. From what I can tell, in my area a sling can fall under laws governing projectile weapons, which can make carrying or using one in public problematic—even if you’re simply wearing it, carrying it in a pack, or using it with something harmless like a tennis ball.

I love slinging, but would like to avoid getting arrested, if possible.

As I understand it, **private property with the property owner’s permission is generally the safest place to practice.** Public places such as parks, parking lots, shopping centers, riverbanks, etc., can present legal issues even when you’re only slinging tennis balls and have no intention of causing harm.

That raises some questions for me:

**Is Maryland unusually restrictive, or are similar laws common elsewhere?**

When I see videos of people slinging in parks, parking lots, along rivers, or other public spaces, I often wonder:

- Are they legally allowed to sling there?
- Have they obtained permission from the property owner or local authority?
- Are the laws simply different where they live?
- Or are some people just unaware that what they’re doing may be prohibited?

There’s another aspect I’m particularly interested in. Many sling manufacturers and slinging enthusiasts promote carrying a sling as **EDC**, wearing one around the wrist, using one as a belt, or keeping one in a pocket or pack. That may be perfectly reasonable in some jurisdictions—but it seems potentially problematic in others.

**So, how do you handle this where you live?**

If you practice on private property, how did you go about getting permission? Do you simply ask the property owner, or is there a better way to approach it? Have any of you successfully obtained permission from a farm, private range, club, or other property owner specifically for slinging?

For me, the primary interest right now is **learning the skill**, not launching projectiles at anything. I’m planning to use **tennis balls** for practice, at least for the foreseeable future.

I’d really appreciate hearing from experienced slingers about the legal situation in your part of the world and, especially, how you’ve found legitimate places to practice.

**What does slinging legally look like where you live?**

A sling is not mentioned in the german law. But slingshots and bows and arrows are mentioned and the law about those is pretty lax. A toddler is allowed to carry those in public.

No matter where in the world you live, I think you won´t get into problems if you just sling tennis balls. I was once slinging next to a kindergarden and the kids came up to me and lined up in a queue to try the sling. The kindergarden teachers were fascinated too and wanted to hire me for a sling making project. When slinging tennis balls you should be safe to argue that your sing is a toy.

When I go out on the fields to sling stones, sometimes an officers who lives nearby jogs by (off duty). He is cool with me slinging. He makes jokes about it "Am I save?"/ "Do I have to duck my head?".

Sometime it can be hard to find information on whether slings are illegal or not.  Mainly from them being pretty unknown to people.  As FloatingFlint mentioned, the argument that it's more of a toy can be made.  And if that description doesn't seem to fit, I think 'sports equipment' definitely does.  After all, that's what we're using it for.

Despite many slingers not being a fan of tennis balls, they do help in this regard.  They're recognizable to anyone, and not at all threatening.  There could certainly still be people who object.  But as long as things are being done in a controlled way so that no person or their property is going to get hit, I wouldn't be too concerned about getting in legal trouble.  I'd guess in an interaction with an officer, you would most likely just be told to clear out.

Getting into other projectiles, I think caution and awareness of where you are and what's nearby are absolute requirements.  If you're on someone else's property, asking for permission is definitely the way to go.  You don't want someone randomly coming by.  For safety reasons if nothing else.

    I live in New Jersey where everything is illegal.  I've used my slings on multiple occasions in full view of the police in local parks.  It's been my experience that as long as your not doing anything stupid and or dangerous the police will let you be.
    A very long time ago when I was a new guy here I looked into the process of getting the sling approved as a legal hunting weapon in New Jersey.  Forget it.  Mission Impossible.  One would have to make a full time career of the endeavor for many years.