Editorial: Eric Thompson not welcome on Tech campus Eric Thompson, the gun dealer who sold firearms and accessories to both Seung-Hui Cho and Phillip Kazmierczak, the gunman who killed five students at Northern Illinois University, came to Virginia Tech last night out of what he feels is his personal responsibility to the community nearly one year after Cho committed the largest school shooting in American history.

In a statement on Wednesday, university spokesman Larry Hincker, called the visit "terribly offensive."

"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," said the statement issued by Hincker.

Cho bought a .22-caliber handgun through Thompson's Web site based in Green Bay, Wis. Thompson bought accessories through another company site.

Being that just last week we honored the one-year anniversary of last April's shootings on our campus, Thompson's visit is untimely and inappropriate. While Thompson told WBAY-TV in Green Bay this week that, "what I'm really hoping to do (during the visit) is just lend a voice. Unfortunately, a set of coincidences and circumstances, I've been in the media, and I think with that I have a special responsibility to help out."

There is little place for him on campus.

Last night, all he did was perpetuate the situation and rile up the student masses that have taken sides on this increasingly controversial issue.

Coming to Tech was just uncalled for, especially given his history. Everyone for concealed carry argues that as long as guns don't get into the wrong hands, it's fine.

Well, Thompson sold the gun and accessories into the wrong hands. Given that there are currently students on campus who were struck with bullets from Cho's gun and survived, we feel that he had little explanation to offer our community at this point in time.

Even if he followed all the proper procedures and required background checks in selling his guns, he must feel some sort of responsibility for the shootings on both campuses.

Last night's visit was tacky and came across as an attempt just to get attention.

Thompson also announced that he will sell firearms at reduced prices to college students who might be on a tight budget.

Students will have over 5,400 to choose from. This offer is not what the community wants or needs right now, nor was his campus visit.

The editorial board is composed of Amie Steele, Joe Kendall, Saira Haider, Laurel Colella and Sara Mitchell.