New Florida GOP congressman, veteran gives dummy grenades to fellow members as welcome gift

Newly-elected Florida GOP Rep. Cory Mills has given fellow House members inert grenades as a welcome gift to Congress and to celebrate the decorate military veteran being appointed to the chamber's Armed Forces and Foreign Affairs committees.

"In that spirit, it is my pleasure to give you a 40mm grenade, made for an MK19 grenade launcher," Mills wrote in an accompanying letter.

Such gifts are typically representative or symbolic of a member of Congress' district or state. 

'These are manufactured in the Sunshine State and first developed in the Vietnam War," also wrote Mills, a former member of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is also a Bronze Star recipient.

The grenades also have an elephant on them, which is the symbol of the Republican Party. 

Mills' Capitol Hill office told The Washington Post the grenades are were cleared through all security metrics.

It is unclear how many grenades were given out. 

Mills represents Florida's 7th Congressional District, having defeated Democrat Rep. Stephanie Murphy, a member of the House's Jan. 6 committee.