by Alan McBride

TAMPA, FLA. -- Attendees to the Republican National Convention in Tampa will have to abide by a long list of forbidden items that can potentially be used as weapons or security threats.

Among the items are water pistols, strings more than six inches long, and plastic or metal pipe.

Pistols, on the other hand, are permitted as long as the owner has a permit for them.

Convention organizers say there's a reason why the handguns are allowed to go where a squirt-gun isn't.

It's the state law.

Under Florida law, local governments are forbidden to put restrictions on the carrying of firearms in public places.

Earlier drafts of the "can and can't carry" list of items did include firearms, according to officials, until the pertinent law was brought to their attention.

While guns will be banned from the convention's security zone, which is established by the Secret Service, permitted weapons must be allowed in the so-called "clean zone" outside the security perimeter.

Protester restrictions are another matter, and will be addressed by the city council later this week.

The convention is scheduled to take place in Tampa this August.