Posted on 05/11/2012 4:59:53 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
A George Zimmerman supporter decided to show his support for the man charged with second degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin by selling gun range targets meant to represent the slain teen.
The Orlando, Florida "businessman," says he has sold out of the targets, which feature a silhouetted character with a black hoodie and a target drawn on its chest, along with a bag of Skittles candy and an iced tea can in the pockets. Martin was walking home to his father's girlfriend's house after purchasing the items, when he encountered Zimmerman on February 26th.
The targets were for sale on the website GunBroker.com. The item, along with a cached page, have since been removed.
The seller, who did not identify themselves by name, told a local Orlando news station he thinks Zimmerman "is innocent and that he shot a thug." He admitted that his "main motivation" in creating the targets was to "make money off the controversy," according to WKMG Orlando.
According to the station's website:
In an email exchange with reporter Mike DeForest, the seller wrote, "My main motivation was to make money off the controversy."
The seller would not disclose how many paper targets had been made, but said in an email, "The response is overwhelming. I sold out in 2 days."
Some of those targets were sold to two Florida gun dealers, according to the seller.
Before DeForest identified himself as a reporter, the seller claimed that targets were still available for purchase. After being informed Local 6 was investigating his online business, the seller claimed the targets would no longer be sold.
Some firearm enthusiasts have objected to the targets, with one telling the station, "Even though I fully believe Zimmerman was justified in shooting, Trayvon was still a human being and does not deserve that kind of disrespect in death."
Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, released a statement condemning the targets, saying: "We feel we must go on record as stating that we unequivocally find this appalling and disgusting in every regard. It is an insult to the Martin family, it inflames the already heated social tension surrounding the George Zimmerman case, and it represents an irresponsible approach to gun ownership. It is this type of hatred that will make it more difficult to try this case."
According to RawStory.com, the item was labeled "10 Pack Trayvon Martin Targets," and the description read: ""Everyone knows the story of Zimmerman and Martin. Obviously we support Zimmerman and believe he is innocent and that he shot a thug. Each target is printed on thick, high quality poster paper with a matte finish! The dimensions are 12″x18″ ( The same as Darkotic Zombie Targets) This is a Ten Pack of Targets."
RawStory reported the seller's ID on Gunbroker.com was "hillerarmco" from Virginia Beach, Virginia. And according to the site, "a website by the same name is registered to Hiller Armament Company in Virginia Beach, but the associated phone number had been disconnected."
A Twitter account by the name @hillerarmco appeared to have been deleted Friday, and a website linked to Hiller Armament Company was also down.
This is an outrage. Only Trayvon's parents are allowed to make money off this.
Perhaps there is some hope for humanity.
On a similar subject, I asked my gun range owner if he sold Obama targets. He said he'd be in prison if he did.
Decidedly tacky.
(I don’t know why “tacky” went out of vogue. It’s a useful word in some situations.)
God Bless Capitalism.
No, the parents are not allowed to make money off their son’s death. The money is exclusively in the hands of AL Sharpton.
Now Martin's mom is going to trademark "10 pack Trayvon Martin Targets."
lol
only george zimmerman wanted posters sold by the old black panthers is legit.
Hmmm. Turnabout being fair play and all..
That’s repulsive. If I were a conspiracy buff, I’d swear that this dirtbag was trying to make 2nd. Amendment supporters and gun owners look bad.
It’s definitely in poor taste.
Pretty tasteless, if you ask me.
I agree, but apparently there's money in poor taste. Plug in your poor taste example here: I think "Girls Gone Wild" is a starter--more as a franchise than a one-off.
Thar's gold in them hills of bad taste.
Freakin'.
Cool.
ML/NJ
Absolutely in poor taste. Kind of like a congressman wearing a hoody on the floor of the House. Kind of like demanding an indictment and conviction prior to the presentation of evidence. Kind of like demanding changes to laws before you now the impacts. But absolutely in poor taste.
I agree it is tasteless, but will submit trademarking his name was pretty f’d up, too.
BTW, I cursed the ground that Benjamin Crump walks on. May justice be served.
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