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.
No good will come of that.
President Bush in a Bulls eye, no problemo. Trayvon, well not Trayvon, but close enough for a Libtard to get upset, BIG Problemo.
Pres__ent Obummmer in a Bulls eye, Capital Crime punishible by death.
Depends on the motivation of the mother. If it was to profit, incredibly crass. If it was to stake ground and prevent others from profiting, incredibly honorable.
Bad form.
Freakin'.
Cool.
Sign you up for a couple?
Ok, I smiled at your comment — I love the outrageous, you know that — but seriously, no thanks and it isn’t a cool biz endeavor.
Poor taste or not, the exercise of liberty demands that thousands more be printed and sold, just for the sake of civil disobedience against the cultural so called cultural laws we now have based on political correctness, which change according to every weekly leftist meme that might come along.
Print up a few New Black Panther targets too, since they get to print and circulate clearly illegal “wanted dead or alive” posters on Zimmerman.
I will gladly donate several hours of range time and a few boxes of ,45 auto ammo to making them more than slightly perforated.
Eff these lefty progues, every one.
Good Read:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html
Good job! Yes, there is a little by way of parallel here. That little stunt was less offensive than this one, but yes, it was offensive and somewhat pander-ish.
I make 10-14 inch long Obama targets regularly, but like the real this, they start to fall apart quickly when you flush.
The people who used to say “tacky” have now been divided into two groups. One says “outraged”, and the other says, “oh Jeeze”.
A skittle held in the hand of a guy in a hoodie would make a good target.. Honkified or Blackified.. better one of each on the same target..
Poor taste would be the parents attempting to make money off their dead son. Trademarking his name (which they did) so they can collect on any t-shirts, posters other promotional materials would be a good example. Just say’n
Agree that it’s very bad taste. My range used to sell Osama bin Laden targets. Don’t know if they still do.
I figured that you would get a quick smirk out of it. It was a slider in my favorite spot, couldn’t resist taking it over the centerfield fence. ;-)
Boy Howdy, as they say in Nebraska:
Trayvon Martin’s mother in Bloomberg gun control video
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2882719/posts
Trayvon Martin’s parents visit Stephen Lawrence memorial (The roadshow hits London)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2881954/posts
Trayvon Martin’s parents visit Birmingham, march to King statue in Kelly Ingram Park
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2879630/posts
Trayvon Martin’s Parents To Host Civil Rights Rally In South LA
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2876802/posts
Sybrina Fulton: ‘I Can Wait A Year’ For Justice (Trayvon Martin’s mother)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2876786/posts
[Al Sharpton] From Rodney King to Trayvon Martin: Let’s Not Miss Another Opportunity to Progress
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/2876030/posts
Well, there are a lot of reactions to this, and I had the same thoughts when I saw this article. I don't disagree with the comments that it is tacky. I wouldn't buy them.
Sadly, some have already profited. That spermwhale sharpton and his proganganda arm of the Obama regime, MSNBC for example. Jesse Jackson and the usual media pimps have surrounded that family just the way they swarmed to Cindy Sheehan after her sons death. And like Sheehan, when the party is over and Zimmerman is memory, the family will be left alone wondering if they had been used..
What are you supposed to do with these things? Lay flat on your back with it on top of you and shoot at it?
If you made targets of any living presidents for target practice there would probably be trouble. Because it can be interpreted as something other than just a target.
LOL! Ok, thats funny, I don't care who you are!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.