Well, that's interesting. And another good reason to change the standing law. I don't think any entity besides a federal agency should have access to machine guns. Or helicopters. Or missiles. Or bombs. Or artillery. Etc.
Even with a trust the local LEO (usually Sheriff) has to sign off on applications. In places like the next county over, that will never happen because the sheriff won't sign them.
I don't have a problem with people buying machine guns in this manner. Buyers are still checked out, and its a more extensive investigation, plus then you have to go buy one. If you want a real live automatic weapon, you're going to spend some cash. For probably 99% of those that want one, this isn't a spur of the moment purchase. Before someone actually gets a firearm in their hand it will be around 9 months and probably in the neighborhood of about $7-$10k.
My problem is with the lack of training. I don't have an issue with people who are saying they are following the intention of the 2a by arming themselves and wanting to be armed at the same level as the average soldier. My issue is that the average soldier has like 2 weeks of intensive, focused training on care, maintenance, storage, use, aiming, and marksmanship, etc with their basic battle rifle. So if you want to be at the same level of a soldier with an auto, in my opinion you need to be at the same level of training with an auto as a soldier.
As far as helicopters, artillery..etc. I don't really care if people buy them. I know people that have legit artillery pieces, cannons, deck guns, recoiless rifles, that are all functional, but who cares if you have a functional deck howitzer if you'll never be able to find ammo for it. You can't exactly go to wal-mart and buy 155mm ammo off the shelf
