Bidding in an online auction for the gun George Zimmerman used to kill Trayvon Martin was up to $65 million Friday morning. "I am honored and humbled to announce the sale of an American Firearm Icon," Zimmerman apparently wrote on Thursday.
“Now is your opportunity to own a piece of American History," the post read, with the author adding, "Many have expressed interest in owning and displaying the firearm including The Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, however, the offers were to use the gun in a fashion I did not feel comfortable with."
The Smithsonian has said these claims are absolutely false.
Bidding on the gun began at $5,000 and reached more than $65 million early Friday. Bids came in from people with handles including “Racist McShootface,” and Tamir Rice, which is the name of a 12-year-old boy shot by police in Cleveland while carrying a toy gun.
The United Gun Group website briefly pulled the listing Thursday night, saying the auction was not in the organization's best interest. But the auction was back up and running on the company’s website early Friday.
The 32-year-old Zimmerman was acquitted of the murder.
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