Headline: Buckeye Firearms Assoc. Starts Fund To Buy George Zimmerman A New Gun

by Chad D. Baus

WKEF (Dayton ABC) reported Friday on Buckeye Firearms Foundation's efforts on behalf of George Zimmerman in the wake of the Obama Justice Department's move to deny him the return of his property now that he has been acquitted.

From the article:

The Buckeye Firearms Association is raising money to buy George Zimmerman a new gun.

George Zimmerman was found not guilty of second degree murder and manslaughter by a jury.

"He's been acquitted, but they have not returned his firearm. His property," Buckeye Firearms Association President Jim Irvine told us by phone Friday.

The US Department of Justice has requested that the Sanford Florida Police Department keep all the evidence from the trial since they are considering a civil rights case against George Zimmerman. That evidence includes the gun that took Trayvon Martin's life.

Within a few hours the fund already raised more than $2,000. More than enough money to replace Zimmerman's gun.

The group believes strongly that Zimmerman's constitutional rights are being violated and he should get his gun back and have a way to protect his family that now receives daily threats.

"We want to get a firearm in his hands so he can go back to the state he was in before this event as far as being prepared for things that come up," Irvine said.

"When someone is threatened in their life and use lethal force to stay alive, if we take the very tool that kept them alive away from them, that's psychologically damaging."

The organization insists the issue isn't about whether or not you agree with the verdict, it's about second amendment rights.

The organization tells us they will buy a new gun, holster, flashlight, and any other gear Zimmerman may want to feel safe.

As was pointed out in the Foundation's press release, whatever you might think about the Zimmerman verdict, the fact remains that we are a nation of laws, not mob justice.

George Zimmerman was tried in a court of law and found NOT GUILTY. And that entitles him to continue exercising all his rights, including his Second Amendment right to own a firearm.

To be fair to all concerned, we have remained silent during the Zimmerman trial. We allowed the evidence to unfold and the justice system to run its course. Now the jury has spoken and that should be the end of the matter.

But now Eric Holder and the U.S. Justice department have stepped in to stop Zimmerman from taking possession of his property. This move to prevent Mr. Zimmerman from claiming his property is an unacceptable abuse of power. And the threats of federal charges on civil rights grounds is little more than blatant pandering for political gain.

That's why we decided to act.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.

Coverage of our efforts has gone international. Links to some of the coverage are included below:

Ohio Public Radio Statehouse News Bureau (NPR) - Ohio Gun Owners Group Offers Gun To Zimmerman

Press TV (Tehran) - Ohio organization raising funds to buy George Zimmerman new gun

The Grio.com (NBC Universal) - Ohio organization raising funds to buy George Zimmerman new gun

Salon.com - Ohio gun group: We'll buy George Zimmerman a new gun

US News & World Report - Political Action Committe's[sic] Zimmerman Fundraiser Will Buy Gun, Cover Defense Costs

DrudgeReport.com - Supporters raise money to buy him new gun...

Associated Press - Gun Rights Group Collecting Donations To Buy Zimmerman New Gun

Inquisitor.com - Buckeye Firearms Raising Funds For George Zimmerman's New Gun

Esquire.com - HELP FOR THE STRUGGLING GUN OWNER

Mediaite.com - Ohio Gun Group Raising Money To Buy George Zimmerman A New Gun, Send Message To Eric Holder

RawStory.com - Gun advocates raising money to buy new firearm for Zimmerman

HNGN.com (Headlines and Global News) - George Zimmerman Gun Fund: PAC and Others Want to Purchase a New Firearm

OpposingViews.com - Ohio Gun Group To Buy George Zimmerman A New Gun And Gun Accessories

HuffingtonPost.com - Ohio PAC Raising Money To Buy George Zimmerman A New Gun

TalkingPointsMemo.com - Pro-Gun Group Raising Money To Buy George Zimmerman A New Weapon

DailyCaller.com - Gun group taking donations to buy George Zimmerman a new pistol

Breitbart.com - BUCKEYE FIREARMS FOUNDATION RAISING MONEY TO BUY ZIMMERMAN A NEW GUN

ThinkProgess.org - Ohio Gun Group: 'We're Buying Zimmerman A New Gun'

Kentucky Post - Buckeye Firearms Association raising funds to buy George Zimmerman new gun

Dayton Daily News - Ohio PAC wants to buy George Zimmerman a new gun

WCPO (ABC Cincinnati) - Buckeye Firearms Association raising funds to buy George Zimmerman new gun

WHIO (CBS Dayton) - Ohio PAC wants to buy George Zimmerman a new gun

WDBZ 1230 AM (Cincinnati) "The Nathan Ivey Show"

Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum - Ohio could adopt 'Stand Your Ground' provision