George Zimmerman Gun Fund: PAC and Others Want to Purchase a New Firearm

As the Department of Justice continues there investigation into whether George Zimmerman violated the civil rights of Trayvon Martin they have put a freeze on all of the case's evidence, including the Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm handgun Zimmerman used in the shooting. While the government holds on to that firearm there are a plethora of people stepping forward to make sure that Zimmerman is armed including a novelist, a Florida gun shop owner and an Ohio PAC, according to the Huffington Post.

The Buckeye Firearms Association has created the "Zimmerman Second Amendment Fund" as an effort to raise money in order to buy Zimmerman a new gun, according to the Daily Caller.

"This is about more than mere principle," an email soliciting funds said. "Zimmerman and his family now face daily threats on their lives. More than ever, he has a right to defend himself against those who would seek to do him harm."

The gun-rights group has said that they will use any additional funds raised over the cost of re-arming Zimmerman to re-arm others in similar situations.

"We find this action outrageous," Jim Irvine, President of Buckeye Firearms Association, told the Daily Caller. "Whatever you think about the case, Mr. Zimmerman was tried in a court of law and found not guilty. And now all evidence should be returned to the rightful owners, including Mr. Zimmerman's firearm."

The owner of a gun shop in DeLand, Florida who offered to replace Zimmerman's Kel-Tec pistol free of charge had received death threats, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Pat Johnson, owner of Pompano Pat's, has said that his decision to offer the weapon to Zimmerman was not racially motivated or was it a publicity stunt.

"This is so he (Zimmerman) can protect himself," Johnson told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. "Regardless of what side you are on, he was found not guilty and he has the right to live his life."

The DeLand Police Department has not commented on whether or not they think the death threats were serious, according to the News-Journal.

"I don't really know how credible the threats are," Johnson said. "The cowards are just leaving messages on my answering machine."

Best-selling writer Brad Thor offered to buy Zimmerman any gun that he wants on Twitter. Getting more specific Thor asked his followers if they would like to see him purchase the gun in Chicago, Illinois recently became the last state to allow concealed firearms, and deliver it to Zimmerman on TV.

Zimmerman has not publicly accepted any of these offers.