At SHOT Show 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada, I got a chance to meet IraqVeteran8888, also known as Eric, and his crew. As you probably know if you’re a regular GunsAmerica reader, I’m a big fan of his Youtube Channel. As a matter of fact, we regularly feature his videos on our homepage, in our weekly digest and on our Facebook page.
Why do I like Eric? Well, the answer is simple: He’s authentic, he’s intelligent and he loves guns. Were I to answer that same question from an editor’s perspective I’d say that the content Eric produces is worthy of your time because it’s compelling, informative and entertaining. I don’t know about you, but I almost always watch his videos from start to finish, a compliment I wish I could say about more youtube personalities.
Getting a chance to interview Eric was bittersweet in that it was nice to chat with him but I feel like we barely scratched the surface on the many topics there are to discuss. At some point in the not too distant future I’m hoping we can sit down once again for a more lengthy and in-depth discussion.
That said, what we did get a chance to talk about was Eric’s thoughts on open carry and the constitutionality of NFA items.
“When you open carry you are an ambassador for the gun community,” Eric explained, adding, “You want to make sure you’re representing gun owners in the most positive light that you can. You want to bring people in, not scare them away.”
I couldn’t agree more. Selling the Gospel of guns is about winning hearts and minds, making gun ownership look like an attractive lifestyle choice, not a feckless hobby reserved for thugs and dunderheads. To Eric’s point, those who open carry should be mindful that they are representing more than just themselves but an entire community of individuals who value the 2A.
On the other subject we discussed, Eric said, “Repeal the NFA, get rid of it.” Again, I agree. However, I pressed him a little bit about whether there should be a different standard or issuing process with respect to machine guns, which is where I’ll open up the discussion to you guys.
Supposing you agree that the NFA should be repealed, what type of laws, if any, should exist when it comes to the sale, transfer or possession of machine guns? Should there be some sort of mandatory training class before one is allowed to possess a machine gun? Should there be a machine gun registry? While your answers to those questions may be framed under ideal circumstances (No ATF, No DOJ, No anti-gun movement), what should a pragmatic gun owners expect in the real world? What is a reasonable, yet attainable compromise?