Zimmerman gun auction will proceed

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George Zimmerman’s gun he said was used to kill Trayvon Martin is currently up for sale on a gun auction website but not without controversy.

Zimmerman listed the 9 mm Kel-Tec PF-9 pistol for sale on Wednesday on gunbroker.com  The auction site pulled the listing just prior to the start of the sale, saying they reserve the right to reject listings.  On Thursday Zimmerman relisted the gun with another online auction United Gun Group.  United Gun Group owner Todd Underwood told FOX 35 that he is allowing the gun to be sold on his site and issued this statement:

“United Gun Group exists as a pro-2nd Amendment platform for law-abiding citizens to exercise their constitutional rights.   As a company, we respect and honor the Constitution of the United States of America, the judgements of our judicial system, and follow the rule of the law.  Unless the law has been violated, it is the intention of United Gun Group to allow its members to use any of the available features.  While not always popular, this is where we stand.  These are the principals this nation was founded on, and our goal is to do our part to defend liberty.  We know that many lives have been forever impacted by the incident February 26, 2012, and we truly sorry to the Martin family for their loss.  We will have no further comment on the matter. “

FOX 35 was the first to report about the auction.  In an interview with Zimmerman, he explained why he was selling the pistol.  He said the U.S. Justice Department returned the gun, which took it after Zimmerman was acquitted.  He said he was selling the gun, because "it's time to move past the firearm."

When asked if it might be considered distasteful to auction a gun used in a fatal shooting, he replied, "Do I think it's distasteful to put it on auction, because someone died? No, I don't."

Zimmerman has said he was defending himself when he shot and killed Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old. The shooting, on February 26, 2012, sparked protests and a national debate about race relations.  Zimmerman was acquitted in July of 2013.  
While Martin's family did not want to comment on the auction, FOX 35 spoke with Frances Oliver, who has helped create the Trayvon Martin Memorial in Sanford, Florida.  "It saddens me to know that he is still trying to profit something from the death of Trayvon Martin, and I think the most thing he's trying to profit is attention to himself," Oliver said.  "This is another way to gain some type of attention for himself."

Zimmerman said he has already received death threats since the original auction posting.  "Yes I received death threats.  I've already received a few, just by publicity that it was selling."