Loaded Grenade Launcher Found in Florida Goodwill Charity Bin

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A woman picks up a mock grenade launcher at the EA exhibit for the Gun Club game by IGN at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 16, 2010... Getty

Employees at a thrift store in Florida found a grenade launcher, loaded with live grenades, among the donated items left in their goodwill bin.

Deputies at the Manatee County Sheriff's Office were called to Goodwill Manasota Bargain Barn on Sunday after its employees called in a dangerous-looking donated item, reported The Bradenton Herald.

According to the store's manager, the item came in late last month to a store in nearby Bradenton but was later taken to the Bargain Barn location after employees could not recognize what it was.

After establishing that it was a projectile weapon, authorities said they properly deactivated it and cautiously stored the grenade in a hazmat (hazardous materials) locker and the launcher in a different police property room.

Although it is legal under federal law to own a grenade launcher, it is prohibited to fire anything more explosive than a flare from them.

Goodwill Manasota Bargain Bin receives around 124,000 items each year, reported ABC Action News.

The store's manager, Joe Beshures, admitted that bizarre and dangerous items, including an urn with ashes, firearms, ammunition and gold teeth, have been donated in the past but have never been put on sale.

"We would never want to put any of our customers or employees in any safety risk at all," Beshures said.

There are no leads as to who donated the grenade launcher.

Earlier this week, the Maryland State Fire Marshal's reported that a person collecting recyclables found 38 grenades, nine of which were live, in Dorchester County. The state fire marshal's bomb squad secured a perimeter around the area while they recovered and moved the devices.

"The devices were determined to be hazardous and procedures were conducted immediately at the scene," the Maryland State Fire Marshal said. "In addition six devices were transported to a nearby County landfill where they were counter charged."

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