Firearms Dealer to Visit Va. Tech Campus; University Reacts With Outrage

Invited by student activists at Virginia Tech who are pushing to reform the antiquated prohibition of firearms on college campuses in Virginia, the man whose company sold a gun to Seung Hui Cho and gun equipment to the Northern Illinois University shooter was invited to speak last night at Virginia Tech.

Eric Thompson, the owner of TGSCOM Inc., says he believes he has, “A special responsibility to do all he can to try to prevent further loss of life.”

WSLS TV, the CBS affiliate in Roanoke, Va., reported the following :

"In response to Thompson’s visit, University Spokesman, Larry Hincker released this statement: “Free speech is a hallmark of university life. Still, I find it terribly offensive to learn that the gun-seller of the weapons used in the Virginia Tech campus murders would set foot on this campus. Additionally, the organizers appear to be incredibly insensitive to the families of the victims who lost loved ones and to the injured students still recovering from this horrendous tragedy.”

Personally, I find it terribly offensive that the university created a false sense of security for students, professors and staff last year when it arrogantly denied repeated requests to permit CCW holders to carry their personal sidearms for protection while on campus.

It is incredibly insensitive that university officials apparently do not care about the concerns of students who desperately want to protect themselves (and are trained to do so) because the university can't -- or won't.