My wife saw this and there was a discussion over dinner. While her friends wanted 'stricter gun-laws', she kept an open mind about it. Actually after dinner, I think I swayed her to thinking about 'what-if someone was there to stop it?' It was an interesting dinner topic.
I doubt CNN would report a follow-up so here it is:
Owner of Web-based Firearms Company that Sold to Virginia Tech and NIU Shooters Looks to Turn Tragedy into Platform to Improve Public Safety
TGSCOM Inc. President Eric Thompson says unfortunate twist of fate is spurring him to take a more active role in protecting the public –especially young people – from future attacks.
GREEN BAY – Eric Thompson, the owner of the Internet-based sporting goods and firearms retailer that has sold products to the shooters involved with the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University tragedies, says his unfortunate twist of fate is spurring him to take a more active role in protecting the public – especially young people – from future attacks.
Cho Seung-Hui used TGSCOM Web site
www.thegunsource.com to purchase a Walther P22 firearm used in the Virginia Tech shootings last April. Just last week, Steven Kazmierczak, who killed five people at Northern Illinois University on February 14th, received two 9mm Glock magazines and a holster he ordered from the TGSCOM Inc. Web site
www.topglock.com.
“I’ve spent the past weekend feeling absolutely terrible that my company has been linked to both of these heinous crimes,” said Eric Thompson, president of TGSCOM Inc. “I assume it is just an unfortunate coincidence, but I also believe I now have a special responsibility to do all I can to try and prevent further loss of life.”
Thompson is lending his voice to those who support giving the public the right to protect themselves from mass murderers like Cho and Kazmierczak. Specifically, Thompson believes that college students and university faculty members who are properly licensed and trained to carry a firearm should be allowed to do so. Thompson also wants his home state of Wisconsin to join the 48 states who already allow private citizens to carry a firearm for protection.
“There is simply no reason that a properly trained and licensed person should not be able to exercise their constitutional right to protect themselves and the people they love,” said Thompson. “It’s time for our political leaders to stop pretending that murderous madmen, like Cho and Kazmierczak, will obey a feel-good edict like the gun-free school zone laws. All four major presidential candidates are in Wisconsin today, and I’d love to hear some real solutions from them – not just rhetoric.”
Thompson says that while he is pro-Second Amendment, he would like to see an open and honest discussion from both sides of the controversial gun control debate. To help facilitate that discussion, Thompson is planning to launch
www.GunDebate.com as a location where people can “have a dialogue on the best way to prevent future tragedy.” Thompson said the site should be ready later this week.
“I hope and pray I will never again be in a position where I am asked questions about selling items used in a crime,” said Thompson. “The next news story I want to be involved in is how I sold a firearm to someone who helped prevent tragedy – not cause it.”
Thompson and TGSCOM continue to cooperate with law enforcement looking into the Northern Illinois University shootings. All of TGSCOM’s Web sites include a link to the NIU Memorial Fund.
Eric Thompson is the president and owner of
www.topglock.com,
www.thegunsource.com and over 100 other sporting goods and firearms related websites. His websites sell to police officers, government agencies and private citizens. He holds a federally granted firearms license and has aided in many police investigations to bring criminals to justice. TGSCOM Inc., which employs 20 people, is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin where Thompson, his wife and their three young children live.
