Following his acquittal in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, it was announced that George Zimmerman's gun would be returned. He will not get it back immediately, as the U.S. Department of Justice plans to retain evidence from the trial. A law enforcement official said that this is standard procedure, and does not suggest that the Justice Department plans to further prosecute Zimmerman.
Tensions rose when it was revealed that the 9mm handgun that Zimmerman used to shoot and kill the unarmed teenager would be given back to him. This was followed by public outrage due to the insensitivity of the assertion that he would need the weapon "now more than ever." According to federal prosecutors, an investigation into whether Zimmerman violated civil rights laws when he fatally shot Martin is underway. However, attorneys specializing in civil rights cases say it is a longshot that new charges will be filed.
[via New York Post]
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