Likely easier than you or I. There are quite a few museums displaying firearms and other weapons made by inmates. Some are automatic weapons. Those are made by folks in very controlled environments. Think of what people under the radar have.
I always like a good debate! 34 had a large influence due to the political climate and the media focusing on the few gang that were using automatic weapons. Prohibition era stuff. Basically a few bad eggs, Capone, Dillinger, Nelson, Bonnie and Clyde, and Floyd. For reference in 2015 it was estimated there were 30 active serial killers active in the US. Its kinda like how today every gun owner can be demonized by the act of just one criminal.
In 1933 $250 was an extraordinary amount of money. The $200 NFA tax was meant to keep NFA item out of the hand of all but the very rich. You already had to be quite rich to afford a thompson but now you had to be rich enough to afford 2.
Unfortunately there are still places where scum can point to the MG on the wall and walk out with it.
My issue with NICS is 2 part. I would like to believe that a failed NICS would have some sort of something. My girlfriend worked at a NFA shop for about 13 years. She said in 13 years she could count on one hand with fingers left over the number of times a failed NICS had some sort of follow up action even with repeat offenders. The state for my state pointed to a little less than 1% of failed NICS were followed up on in any way. Its used as a try and try and try again until maybe one slips through. 2 is that I dont like lists. With each purchase that item is on lists and records all the way through from builder to distributor to seller to the state to the gov. Granted, with NFA its no better and possibly worse. Yes, Im in the NFA game. Yes, Im on all the lists. No, Im not happy about it.
Agreed on all parts. Especially finally getting to see his hard work and innovation pay off.
