Gun dealer linked to campus shootings aims sale at making people safer (1/3ページ)

A Green Bay-based online gun dealer linked to deadly shooting rampages at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University announced Wednesday that he would sell guns at his cost for two weeks in an effort to arm citizens and prevent future tragedies.

Eric Thompson said his company, TGSCOM, will offer guns to customers April 23 through May 7 for the same price he pays for them. That could mean a savings of $100 on a $500 gun purchase, he said.

"I'm not making a dime on this," Thompson said, adding that he hopes to make it easier for citizens to carry a gun to protect themselves.

But a state group dedicated to reducing gun violence says Thompson's efforts may have the opposite effect.

"I understand he wants to have a positive impact. Unfortunately, the premise that more guns equal less crime has been proven to be a myth," said Jeri Bonavia, executive director for the Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Anti Violence Effort.

A study showing the crime rate dropped after Florida allowed more open possession of guns didn't mention that crime rates nationwide dropped at the same time, she said. Florida still has the highest gun crime rate. Wisconsin, which prohibits carrying concealed weapons, had the 11th lowest rate and now has the sixth lowest rate.

"We've improved relative to other states," she said.