My sentiments, exactly. I wonder what kind of stink would be made "South of the Border" if a US museum had Pancho Villa's "pistolas" and wanted to melt them down. Geeze, The cries of "Hate Crime" could be heard from Brownsville to Winnipeg.
Send the Thompson to the Smithsonian and be done with it.
Yeah. It could be displayed next to the other famous (ahem) Dillinger "weapon" owned by the Smithsonian.
Just kidding - I know that's an urban legend.