“If people actually had, or even had the threat of having protection, then it adds an extra layer of security and doubt in the killer’s mind that they could be stopped.” Eric Thompson, president of TGSCOM Inc.

With each fateful shooting on a collegiate campus, a litany of university security questions and concerns boil to the forefront of students’ collective consciousness.

While the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has instituted policies like the S.A.F.E. Alert system and night walking patrols, others have articulated more aggressive methods for combating campus crime.

Eric Thompson, president of the Green Bay-based online sporting goods and firearms retail site TGSCOM Inc., proposes a starkly different approach in addressing campus violence.

He is a staunch advocate of implementing a concealed carry law in Wisconsin and believes that students and faculty members that are properly licensed and trained to operate a firearm should be allowed to do so. Furthermore, he believes that the acceptance of concealed carry law could conceivably prevent the kinds of mass shooting incidents that have become more and more frequent in recent history.

“If people actually had, or even had the threat of having protection, then it adds an extra layer of security and doubt in the killer’s mind that they could be stopped,” said Thompson. “People should have the right to protect themselves.”

The bottom line for Thompson is that shooters can go into gun-free zones like college campuses knowing they have the upper-hand.

“These killers are going out there well aware that there are no other guns around,” said Thompson.

Thompson does not see emotional maturity as a serious issue, citing the similar responsibilities heaped upon young men and women in other fields and situations.

“We expect young men and women to be soldiers and fly multi-million dollar jets in order to protect us. If they have the emotional maturity to deal with that, I do not believe licensed and trained individuals carrying firearms is an issue,” said Thompson.

TGSCOM Inc. is a retailer that has received recent media attention over selling products to the shooters in both the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois tragedies. TGSCOM operated site thegunsource.com sold a Walter P22 firearm to the Va. Tech shooter Cho Seung-Hui, while Northern Illinois shooter Steven Kazmierczak purchased two 9mm magazines and a holster from topglock.com.

In a recent press release following the shooting at Northern Illinois, Thompson indicated that he felt terrible that his company has been linked to both tragedies, and feels that it is his responsibility to prevent such loss of life in the future. He also insists that his occupation as a firearms retailer has no bearing on his aggressive concealed carry stance.

“The important thing is to make sure our children our safe and that both sides of the argument can come to a rational solution, as opposed to just rhetoric,” said Thompson.

Thompson has also created the site gundebate.com to encourage discussion and the exchange of ideas on the issue.

Wisconsin currently has no laws allowing citizens to carry firearms on campuses, or in public for that matter, and many would like to keep it that way.

“A proliferation of weapons would clearly damage campus safety,” said UW System Spokesperson Dave Giroux. “Anyone advocating the arming of students is simply out of step.”

In regards to current efforts to prevent violent campus crime here in Milwaukee, UWM Vice Chancellor Tom Luljak indicated that the S.A.F.E. Alert system has been highly successful thus far, with nearly a quarter of the student body signing up for the emergency texting service.

“It’s a good start,” said Luljak.

Additionally, more and more members of the community are getting involved in the new “Safe Walkers” program, which provides a two-person walking patrol for those who request the service. The service is free and can be utilized at night by calling the non-emergency UWM Police Dept. number.

The Public Safety Task Force created by the university to address the issue of campus crime will be holding a public hearing on Wednesday in the RiverView dorms, to allow students and members of the community to ask questions and voice their concerns on the issue.

What’s your take? Send it to news@uwmpost.com or visit gundebate.com for more information.

> Comments