Posted on 04/25/2008 4:27:51 AM PDT by marktwain
The owner of the Green Bay-based web site that sold guns a gun to the Virginia Tech shooter and gun accessories to the Northern Illinois University gunman plans to visit Virginia Tech on Thursday.
Eric Thompson owns TGSCOM, the company that sold a gun to Seung-Hui Cho last year. Cho killed 32 students and staff at Virginia Tech's campus.
Thompson announced Wednesday students invited him to campus to talk about concealed-carry laws.
"What I'm really hoping to do is just lend a voice. Unfortunately, a set of coincidences and circumstances, I've been in the media, and I think with that I have a special responsibility to help out," Thompson said.
Wisconsin residents are banned from carrying concealed weapons.
Legislators tried to pass a bill allowing it in 2006. Governor Jim Doyle vetoed it, and the Assembly failed to override his veto by two votes.
He was invited by students for Concealed Carry on Campus, an organization that formed after the shootings. It's a group that's gaining popularity on campuses across the country. According to its web site, there were 12,000 members in February and now it claims more than 25,000 members in 14 states, including students at U.W.-Madison and U.W.-Milwaukee.
"And this is a case where I think my advocacy here will help change some people's minds. I hope, anyway," Thompson said.
Even though Thompson says he's invited by students to Virginia Tech, this will be his first time on campus since the shootings and he isn't sure how well they will receive the man who sold a gun to Cho.
"I'm certain there's a lot of hard feelings out there, and I'm certain there's going to be some reaction there, and I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't nervous about it, but however, like I said, it's not about me, I feel like I have a responsibility to make sure my message gets out to people."
He feels the gun debate is an important issue that can't be ignored.
He does have guts, but I question his brains. This just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
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