Zimmerman Finds Ally, Hawks Paintings of Confederate Flag

Like the Avengers of controversy, George Zimmerman and the owner of a "Muslim-free" gun shop are teaming up to sell copies of Zimmerman's painting of a Confederate flag. According to the Florida Gun Supply website, Zimmerman was painting an American flag when he heard about a suit against Andy Hallinan. He decided to paint over it with the Confederate battle flag "in honor of Andy Hallinan for being a true patriot and leading the country into a better, safer America." Florida Gun Supply is selling copies of the print for $50, which Zimmerman and Hallinan will be splitting to cover their "legal funds, living expenses, and advancing their mission to change the country," the BBC reports.

On the store website, Zimmerman defends his choice to paint the Confederate flag: "You cannot assume everyone who flies a Confederate Flag is racist in the same way that you cannot judge every Muslim to be a terrorist." Hallinan, though, seems OK making that kind of generalization: He no longer allows Muslims at his shooting range because he doesn't want to "arm and train" people who want to hurt Americans, Time reports. The pair originally planned to give some of the proceeds to the Boys & Girls Club of America, but the organization didn't want to be associated with the fundraiser. (More George Zimmerman stories.)