'I'm a free American' - George Zimmerman defends decision to auction gun used to kill Trayvon Martin
The pistol George Zimmerman used in the fatal shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin is to be auctioned online.
The former neighbourhood watch volunteer told Florida TV station WOFL that he had just got the gun back from the US Justice Department, which took it after he was acquitted in Trayvon's 2012 shooting death.
Mr Zimmerman told the station: "I thought it's time to move past the firearm. And if I sell it and it sells, I move past it.
"Otherwise, it's going in a safe for my grandkids and never to be used or seen again."
The auction listing on GunBroker.com describes the gun as a 9 mm Kel-Tec PF-9 pistol.
The auction begins later today and the bidding starts at US$5,000.
The listing also says a portion of the proceeds will help "fight BLM violence against Law Enforcement officers, ensure the demise of Angela Correy's [who led the prosecution against him] persecution career and Hillary Clinton's anti-firearm rhetoric."
When asked what he thought of people who would be opposed to auctioning the gun, Mr Zimmerman said: "They're not going to be bidding on it, so I couldn't care less about them."
Mr Zimmerman has said he was defending himself when he shot and killed Trayvon, an unarmed black 17-year-old.
The shooting sparked protests and a national debate about race relations.
"The Trayvon Martin Foundation is committed to its mission of ending senseless gun violence in the United States," read a statement a lawyer for Trayvon's family gave the Florida station.
"This election season, we are laser-focused on furthering that mission. As such, the foundation has no comment on the actions of that person."
Mr Zimmerman said he has received death threats but has decided not to cower.
"I'm a free American," he said. "I can do what I want with my possessions."
