| TO EVERYONE IT CONCERNS - MORE THAN MY OPINION |
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| Ron Walton | |
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An Open Letter to Governor Tim Kaine, Attorney General Bob McDonnell, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger, Commonwealth Attorney Brad Finch, Sheriff Tommy Whitt, Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum and Anyone Who Can Stop a Travesty About to Happen:
Greetings from Our Nation's Capitol. I am so upset today being away on business because the people I have addressed this to would have to drag me off the Virginia Tech campus kicking and screaming this afternoon. How can we sit by and watch this man, this wicked and awful individual, on the campus of Virginia Tech - much less allow him the platform to speak? The man I am speaking of is the same man I wrote about in an editorial about 5 weeks ago. Here is an exerpt:
"From the "Can You Believe It" file. Are you keeping up with this Eric Thompson guy? In case you don't know the name, he is the gentleman that owns TGSCOM, Inc. This is the parent company of sites like www.thegunsource.com as well as other similar sites. His sites are also the ones that sold Cho Seung-Hui the Walther P22 firearm used in the Virginia Tech shootings and also sold Steven Kazmierczak, who killed five people at Northern Illinois University on February 14th, two 9mm Glock magazines and a holster. My assumption would be that this guy would be all about strengthening the gun laws and 38 dead people would convince him to stop the Internet sales. Nope. This guy is all behind a student group advocating that students and faculty should be allowed to carry weapons on campus to defend themselves. He is working with this group to collect holsters to be used in a rally the week following the April 16th anniversary of the shootings at Tech. So, let me get this straight.....he wants to be able to sell more weapons to people in order to protect themselves from the people he already sold guns to? Is someone other than me seeing it this way? I am all for people owning guns - although I believe the concealed weapon laws need revamping - but come on. Even gun enthusiasts have to see the wrong in what Eric Thompson is doing."
Early last week I was working on another opinion piece begging the University not to allow the "lie-in" that took place. I was unable to finish the piece before it was already over and done. My reason for saying keep them off? Because now you have to allow the trash - Eric Thompson - to speak at this University. I am shocked, I am stunned, I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS MAN WILL BE ALLOWED TO SET FOOT ON THE VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS. Everything this University did on April 16th last week can be tossed out the window as not being serious. Eric Thompson DISHONORS everything and everyone you tried to honor this past week.
You Gun Supporters...............please.............hear me out. This is not about gun control. This is not about taking away your firearms. This is about a man who sold one of the weapons that murdered 32 of your friends at Virginia Tech. This is the man that sold accessories to the person who killed five people at Northern Illinois University. This is the man that wants to sell more guns so people can protect themselves from other people he has sold guns to. Please, someone, I beg of you.......show me one place where this man has shown remorse for what he did. I'm sorry but if I sold the gun that killed 32 innocent victims, I could not bring myself to sell another weapon. This man is actually using these horrific events to sell more guns. Is there anyone out there that sees this person for who he is and will stand up and scream - "keep yourself and your guns away from Virginia Tech"?
Simply put, this man is an accessory to murder. The moment he lands in the state of Virginia, Governor Kaine should have the State Police to lock him up for such crime. If that doesn't work, then Sheriff Whitt should be waiting at the county line for his ass and with Brad Finch's (Commonwealth Attorney) blessing. If Sheriff Whitt can't do it, then Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum should arrest him the moment he steps on campus on April 16, 2007. Then, Judge Showalter should stand this man in front of the families who lost loved ones at Virginia Tech. It won't happen - but it damn sure should. You think the ACLU is going to protect this man? Think again. The real question here in Virginia, in Montgomery County, and at Virginia Tech is does our law enforcement community have big enough ----s to arrest and charge this man for his participation for the crime of murder at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. Even if the man walks, imagine the message that Virginia will be sending to the gun world, and that is "if you sell a weapon that is used in a crime in the Commonwealth of Virginia, we are coming after you". In his interview with one of the TV stations he said he "was nervous". Damn right...he should be....he should be arrested on sight.
At the very least I hope the Virginia Tech Community, the people of Blacksburg and everyone who sees this man as I see him, will show up tonight at Whittemoore 300 - doors opening at 6:45pm - with loud protests and drown this man out. I hope the media will be as informative about planned protests as they were in annoucing this guy was coming. Any welcome this man gets should be a harsh one. I really do understand the kids who believe they should be allowed to carry guns on campus. I don't agree with them, but they have the right to feel the way you do and speak for the things you believe in. What I have a problem with is their association to Eric Thompson. He is not the guy they should want behind their cause. They should say "no thank you" and protest in some other way. Remember, this man is forever tied to the murder of 32 of your classmates and professors. Who in their right might wants that association? Someone has to step up here and do what is right. And my opinion of "right" is this man should never be allowed in the Commonwealth of Virginia unless he is prepared to get on his knees and apologize to the families of the victims, to Virginia Tech, to Blacksburg and the New River Valley and to the Commonwealth of Virginia. And finally, he should get out of the gun business. Is there no person out there that believes with me on this?
Eric Thompson says he will be selling guns at cost for the next two weeks. We are not idiots - he knows the press could say he is doing this for profit. Well, truth be told, in two weeks he will be making a profit, and using the deaths of 32 Virginia Tech people to help him do it. Allowing this man a platform to speak could be the second darkest day in the University's history - right behind April 16, 2007.
Most that know me know that do have moments at anger for stupidity, mostly my stupidity. This isn't stupidity, it is an event that I do not understand how it is happening. With all the brilliant minds in the Commonwealth, in this County, in this town and at this University - you'd think someone would figure out a way to say: 'NOT HERE BUD - TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE" and escort him away.
For the victims, for the families, for the Virginia Tech Community, for everyone who hurt and suffered because of a gun this man sold; someone with some authority please stand up and do the right thing. Comments (7)
  written by tpbuchanan, April 24, 2008
I find it terribly offensive to see an honest merchant smeared in this way. Apparently, at VT free speech is only for those who are pre-approved. You're blaming to wrong man for the VT shooting. You should be taking a look at the reckless policies that banned firearms from the campus in the first place--making VT a far more dangerous place than necessary. Do they teach anything about the Constitution at VT? If they did, you'd realize that in order for you to have your free speech rights protected, the rights of those you disagree with must also be upheld. What a bunch if nincompoops! You don't understand the first thing about this issue, but that doesn't impede you from offering your ignorant viewpoint.
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 written by David Gravely, April 24, 2008
And while we're at it, I think we need to sue the Trojan Condom company for every unplanned pregnancy that occured at VT, we need to sue the people that made the pens, the textbooks, and the paper for every student that ever failed a test at VT, we need to sue every car manufacturer for every accident that ever injured anyone on the VT campus, and we need to sue VT itself for not having enough parking and making me walk a mile to come to a see a game, causing my back to hurt more than it mormally does.
Get a grip people, this guy sells guns, just like Deans Guns in Radford and Big Z's in Fairlawn. Are you going to tell them they arent welcome to come on the VT campus too? An idiot killed the people on the VT campus, and it didnt matter if he did it with a gun or with a knife, HE KILLED THEM!! report abuse
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 written by Albert, April 24, 2008
I agree with you Mr. Walton and the other posters. How can Tech allow this and why would these students want someone like this speaking to them. I have heard that the majority of students at Tech are against this event and only a small handful of students are pushing for this.
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written by Albert, April 24, 2008
I really find it hard to believe that Virginia Tech is allowing this. I have written Congressman Boucher, as well as Gov. Tim Kaine and Tech President Charles Steger showing my displeasure. I suggest that if you are against this, you can show your displeasure by sending an email to President Steger at:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
. The governor has a blind email address, but his press secretary can be contacted at (804)225-4260.
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 written by Arthur, April 24, 2008
I can't believe that Va. Tech would allow this type of person on their campus and I'm even more surprise that VT student Ken Stanton of the Virginia Tech Chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus would even want someone like this person even on their campus. Doesn't Mr.Stanton and his group have any respect for his fellow students, the ones who lost their lives and their families. Evidently not!!!!!
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If he broke a law, then yes I agree he should be held accountable. If not, then you need to blame the right people. Blame the murderer or be an activist to get the laws changed, but don't blame an innocent man for running a business.
My brother was shot and killed several years ago. I blame one person for that. I blame the one who murdered him, no one else. Because you know as well as I do that if someone wants a gun they can get access to it no matter what. It's not the person who sold the gun or the ammo, the responsibility lies with one person---the killer.
As far as allowing people to carry weapons on campus, well I'm sure it's already being done. At least if it's legal there will be a record of the legitimate gun owners. Plus, someone would think twice before pulling a weapon on someone when they're not sure if the other person is carrying one.
That's just my opinion.