Gun that killed Trayvon Martin pulled from online auction
Technically Incorrect: George Zimmerman, who was acquitted of the black teen's death, called his gun a "piece of American history" and had offered it for a $5,000 minimum bid.
Technically Incorrect offers a slightly twisted take on the tech that's taken over our lives.
George Zimmerman had hoped to sell his gun to the highest bidder.
George Zimmerman shot dead an unarmed Trayvon Martin four years ago in Florida, saying he'd acted in self-defense.
Zimmerman was acquitted three years ago in a trial over the 17-year-old boy's death. Reactions across the country were intense, and Martin's mother said Zimmerman got away with murder.
In recent days, Zimmerman decided to auction off the gun that killed Martin.
Until Thursday morning, the listing for the handgun had appeared on Gunbroker.com, with the auction scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. PT that day. The minimum bid was set at $5,000.
But by around the time the bidding was supposed to be getting under way, the listing was pulled from the auction site. Gunbroker.com did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Zimmerman is no stranger to cashing in on his fame online. In 2013, he put a painting of his up for sale on eBay. It fetched more than $100,000.
As to the gun that killed Martin, Zimmerman described the Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm pistol in his listing as a "piece of American history."
He explained that it was recently returned to him by the US Department of Justice. "Many have expressed interest in owning and displaying the firearm including The Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.," he added.
"The firearm is fully functional as the attempts by the Department of Justice on behalf of B. Hussein Obama to render the firearm inoperable were thwarted by my phenomenal Defense Attorney."
He told WOGX-TV: "I'm a free American. I can do what I want with my possessions."
Some might wonder what sort of person would auction a gun used to shoot someone, lawfully or not.
Some might wonder what sort of person would pay at least $5,000 for it.
Update 9:22 a.m. PT: Added that Zimmerman's listing had been pulled from the Gunbroker.com site.