TGSCOM, Inc. was an American online gun dealer based in Green Bay, Wisconsin which sold guns and sporting goods through more than 150 websites, including thegunsource.com and topglock.com. TGSCOM was founded in Arizona in 1999 by Eric Thompson, and was based in Tempe, Arizona until October 2006 when the operation was moved to Green Bay. TGSCOM is no longer in business as of May 20, 2012.[1][2]

Media attention

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TGSCOM sold weapons and/or accessories to George Sodini, the perpetrator of the 2009 LA Fitness shooting;[3] Steven Kazmierczak, perpetrator of the 2008 Northern Illinois University shooting;[4] and Seung-Hui Cho, the perpetrator of the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre.[5][6] In August 2009, it employed 37 people; in 2007, at the time of the Virginia Tech shooting, the firm operated 50 websites and had 10 employees.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "BBB Business Review". BBB. Archived from the original on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Online Gun Retailer Closes, BBB Complaints Racking Up". Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  3. ^ Associated Press. "Pa. gunman used same Web store as Va. Tech shooter"; Aug. 7, 2009
  4. ^ Kyle, Keegah. "Green Bay gun dealer linked to Pittsburgh shooter: TGSCOM also sold items to Va. Tech, NIU gunmen" Green Bay Press-Gazette August 7, 2009
  5. ^ Ross, B. & Esposito, R. (April 17, 2007). "First Gun Bought March 13; No 'Spur of the Moment' Crime". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2008. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  6. ^ Turque, Bill; Horwitz, Sari (April 20, 2007). "Kaine Gives Panel Latitude to Probe Campus Killings". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  7. ^ "Read statement from Green Bay gun dealer", WKBT-TV (La Crosse, WI). Retrieved Aug. 8, 2009. Archived 2008-02-20 at the Wayback Machine