This week, tattoo artist Thomas Lockhart - the long-time partner of school trustee Sharon Gregson - announced he would be seeking a Vision Vancouver parks board nomination. But his bid for elected office might not be without controversy. An example: last year, during a visit to Cambodia, Mr. Lockhart visited an army base. And he sent this account of his experience to a friend: "I have to admit, nothing quite makes your asshole pucker like playing around with live hand grenades. I wasn't expecting that snap of the initial fuse (you can see me jump .... it sets of a 5 second delay acid fuse that ignites about a pound of explosives. A lot of those 3rd world Com Block nations (Vietnam, China) will also allow you use their military facilities .... for a price. For two hundred bucks you can fire off a rocket launcher ..... and for another 300 the wankers will even supply a cow.”
In an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Lockhart - a competitive shooter and firearm enthusiast - said he and Ms. Gregson took a trip to Cambodia and Vietnam in 2007. "And they have a lot of ammunitions left over from the Vietnam War and their own civil strife. And that's how the army makes money. You go down to the army bases there and they give you training courses on how to fire military weapons. And one of the places down there in Cambodia - Phnom Penh - they also had grenades there. Well, wouldn't you take a course on how to throw grenades? I did anyway."
"You've got to keep it in context," continued Mr. Lockhart, who has practiced at shooting ranges around the world, including ones in Australia, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Zimbabwe. "That was under the instruction of a bunch of military officers. You know, I admit it. I just did an article with Sandra Thomas from The Vancouver Courier and during the hour-long conversation I never once mentioned guns or firearms. And yet she peppered the entire thing with references to guns and firearms. It is one of my sports. But it's not my entire life. The media seems to grab onto this and make such a big stink - same with Sharon - about guns."
Mr. Lockhart added the email, which was posted on actor Leo Chiang's blog, was supposed to have been "private." The posting also included a video clip of the prospective parks board candidate throwing a grenade into a pond. Both were removed from the blog following our conversation with Mr. Lockhart.
Offered an opportunity to explain his words and actions to Vision Vancouver members who might take offence to his grenade-throwing email, Mr. Lockhart said, "What can I say. You don't have to publish it. But, if you're going to be an asshole, you're going to ruin my political career. And, of course, I'm going to really appreciate that."
News of Mr. Lockhart's impending candidacy was first reported by Vancouver Magazine's Frances Bula.
What concerns me is that one of the most talented and capable tattoo artists in the world, wants to leave a field that he helped pioneer in Canada to run for any public office.
His last statement tells us that he is not quite ready for prime time. Calling a storied journalist an asshole will ruin a career before it starts. Legally owning a gun and tossing a grenade in Cambodia (a brithright there, strange as it may be to some of us) will not...
It's good news, in fact great news, for Westcoast Tattoos and anyone who knows of Thomas' incredible talent that he cares so much about the city that he would take time away from his genius to lend a hand.
Truth be told, for a country that has millions of registered gun owners, like me, we have little respect for the right to do so, because we are too willing to derriere-kiss the weeping hearts who think you can you can protect yourself in a life and death situation with a wet-noodle and a latte.