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Las Vegas Pawn Shop Auctioning Off Gun Once Owned By Christopher Dorner

STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) —  A firearm that once belonged to accused killer Christopher Dorner has been put up for auction by a Las Vegas pawn shop and some critics are none too happy about it.

George Bramlett, the owner of Bargain Pawn, said he bought an Astra 960 .38 special revolver from the rogue ex-cop for $50 back in January.

The owner believes the weapon may now be worth thousands of dollars.

"We were figuring that this gun may, to a collector, may go on the Internet for up to $2,000," said Bramlett.

Images of the weapon and a receipt with Dorner's name on it dated Jan. 15, 2013, which was weeks before his deadly crime spree, were posted on Gunbroker.com.

A line in the auction description called Dorner a "coward" and a "murderer."

Dozens of people have already placed bids with more than a week to go.

Bramlett said the money he collects will go to the cop killer's victims.

"We want the money to go to the survivors of the people who were killed by him," he said. "They each get something."

Critics, however, said the auction is tasteless and disgusting.

The Peace Officers Research Association of California, a group that backed out of the $1 million Dorner reward, called the gun sale "distasteful."

They said the auction is an attempt to cash in on the notoriety of a mass murderer.

The Los Angeles and Riverside police departments, along with other law enforcement agencies, either didn't call back CBS2 or didn't want to comment on the pawn shop's plan.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League also declined to weigh-in; a spokesman said they just want to forget Dorner.

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