TGSCOM, Inc


		Clarification: We did NOT sell the murderer ANY weapons. There has been much misinformation regarding this in the news. This information was posted by a TV station in Pittsburgh that hacked this murderer's email address and/or website. August 7, 2009 Green Bay, Wisconsin I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life at the hands of a disturbed and socially stunted mad man. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims of this senseless tragedy. Pennsylvania gym shooter George Sodini, 48, killed three women in an aerobics class at a Pittsurgh-area gym on August 4. Sodini purchased two firearm accessories, a Glock magazine and a Glock magazine loader, in April 2008 from a TGSCOM, Inc. website, http://www.shotgunworks.com/. This event underscores the need for people to realize two important facts. The first is that no matter how responsive law enforcement is or can be, it is not good enough to rely upon for the safety of yourself or your family. The second fact is that you are legally responsible for your own protection. In Castlerock v. Gonzales, the Supreme Court ruled that an individual does NOT have any expectation to police protection even in the event of a restraining order. This ruling clearly states that the government sees that you are responsible for your own protection. Even though I am an ardent supporter of law enforcement, we must realize that they are not, nor can they be, superheroes. A recent report by the Department of Justice states that calls with reports of crimes of violence resulted in the following police response times. 0 – 5 minutes = 26.4% 6 – 10 minutes = 32.0% 11 minutes – 1 hour = 29.7% Think of the following scenario. You are a woman sleeping in bed and you hear your door being kicked in. You call 911, begging for help. Assuming that the intruder is there to hurt or rape you, the seconds begin to tick away. He kicks in the bedroom door 30 seconds later. He could have you, your daughter, sister, or mother in his hands inside of 60 seconds. Who knows what could happen after that point, but keep in mind that there is only a 26.4% chance that the police are going to be there within the next 4 MINUTES! What could happen in 4 minutes? -or- He kicks in the bedroom door 30 seconds later and BANG!!! Many police officers carry a gun while off duty. The people that we entrust to protect us realize the importance of being able to protect themselves. Protect yourself, your family and your loved ones by learning how to defend yourself and teaching others how to do the same. The Supreme Court says that you are on your own and violent criminals tend not to wait for the police to arrive on time. My only hope is that many more people will realize this and hopefully prevent tragedies like this one in the future. Eric Thompson President and Owner TGSCOM Inc. About TGSCOM, Inc. TGSCOM, Inc., a family-owned company, was founded in Arizona in 1999. TGSCOM, Inc. was granted a Federal Firearms License (FFL) by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and is one of the largest online retailers of firearms and firearm accessories. In October of 2006, TGSCOM, Inc. relocated from Phoenix, Arizona to Green Bay, Wisconsin. TGSCOM, Inc. operates the following websites: TopGlock.com and TheGunSource.com. ###

Owner of TGSCOM defends private citizen’s rights to protect themselves on FOX News opposite Paul Helmke. Paul Helmke is the president of the Brady Campaign.

Owner of Web-based Firearms Company that Sold to Virginia Tech and NIU Shooters Looks to Turn Tragedy into Platform to Improve Public Safety

TGSCOM Inc. President Eric Thompson says unfortunate twist of fate is spurring him to take a more active role in protecting the public –especially young people – from future attacks.

GREEN BAY – Eric Thompson, the owner of the Internet-based sporting goods and firearms retailer that has sold products to the shooters involved with the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University tragedies, says his unfortunate twist of fate is spurring him to take a more active role in protecting the public – especially young people – from future attacks.

Cho Seung-Hui used TGSCOM Web site www.thegunsource.com to purchase a Walther P22 firearm used in the Virginia Tech shootings last April. Just last week, Steven Kazmierczak, who killed five people at Northern Illinois University on February 14th, received two 9mm Glock magazines and a holster he ordered from the TGSCOM Inc. Web site www.topglock.com.

“I’ve spent the past weekend feeling absolutely terrible that my company has been linked to both of these heinous crimes,” said Eric Thompson, president of TGSCOM Inc. “I assume it is just an unfortunate coincidence, but I also believe I now have a special responsibility to do all I can to try and prevent further loss of life.”

Thompson is lending his voice to those who support giving the public the right to protect themselves from mass murderers like Cho and Kazmierczak. Specifically, Thompson believes that college students and university faculty members who are properly licensed and trained to carry a firearm should be allowed to do so. Thompson also wants his home state of Wisconsin to join the 48 states who already allow private citizens to carry a firearm for protection.

“There is simply no reason that a properly trained and licensed person should not be able to exercise their constitutional right to protect themselves and the people they love,” said Thompson. “It’s time for our political leaders to stop pretending that murderous madmen, like Cho and Kazmierczak, will obey a feel-good edict like the gun-free school zone laws. All four major presidential candidates are in Wisconsin today, and I’d love to hear some real solutions from them – not just rhetoric.”

Thompson says that while he is pro-Second Amendment, he would like to see an open and honest discussion from both sides of the controversial gun control debate. To help facilitate that discussion, Thompson is planning to launch www.GunDebate.com as a location where people can “have a dialogue on the best way to prevent future tragedy.” Thompson said the site should be ready later this week.

“I hope and pray I will never again be in a position where I am asked questions about selling items used in a crime,” said Thompson. “The next news story I want to be involved in is how I sold a firearm to someone who helped prevent tragedy – not cause it.”

Thompson and TGSCOM continue to cooperate with law enforcement looking into the Northern Illinois University shootings. All of TGSCOM’s Web sites include a link to the NIU Memorial Fund.

Eric Thompson is the president and owner of www.topglock.com, www.thegunsource.com and over 100 other sporting goods and firearms related websites. His websites sell to police officers, government agencies and private citizens. He holds a federally granted firearms license and has aided in many police investigations to bring criminals to justice. TGSCOM Inc., which employs over 35 people, is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin where Thompson, his wife and their three young children live.

TGSCOM, Inc., a family owned company, was founded in Arizona in 1999. TGSCOM, Inc. was granted a Federal Firearms License (FFL) by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and is one of the largest online retailers of firearms and firearm accessories.

TGSCOM, Inc operates the following websites: TopGlock.com and TheGunSource.com

In October of 2006, TGSCOM, Inc. relocated from Phoenix, Arizona to Green Bay, Wisconsin.

ABC's 20/20 Myth Series: Myth #10: Gun Control Reduces Crime
Originally Aired May 2007

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