I Really F***ing Appreciate That': Why a Gun Store Owner Is So Upset After Pulling Plan to Sell High-Tech Gun

Maryland gun dealer Andy Raymond is pretty ticked. He's reversed his decision to carry the Armatix iP1 pistol, but he's not happy about it.

The part-owner of Engage Armament in Rockville, Maryland, endured a day of nasty messages and death threats after telling multiple media outlets he intended to sell a "smart weapon" that some 2nd Amendment advocates -- including the National Rife Association -- have come out against.

In response to the violent outcry from gun activists, Raymond decided to film a 12-minute video rant full of colorful language, drinkin', smokin' and no-kidding gun waving.

"I really f***ing appreciate that, that's f***king classy -- that's a great thing for gun rights when you threaten to shoot somebody," he yelled.

Andy Raymond received death threats after saying his shop would offer the Armatix "smart gun" system (Image source: Facebook).

The gun in question is an Armatix iP1 pistol, also dubbed a "smart gun," which only fires when the owner -- who wears an RFID laden watch -- has his hand on the trigger.

A New Jersey law however, is what's causing the real ruckus.

A piece of legislation dubbed the "childproof handgun" law that has essentially sat dormant for nearly 12 years may kick into effect if any gun store chooses to make the Armatix smart gun available for purchase. The law requires the state’s gun dealers to exclusively sell smart guns within three years after the first one hits the market, according to North Jersey.com.

“New Jersey’s smart-gun law is as dumb as it gets,” Scott L. Bach, the executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, said. “It forces you to use an unproven technology to defend your life, and then exempts the state from liability when the gun goes ‘click’ instead of ‘bang.’ If it’s such a great idea, then law enforcement shouldn’t be exempt, and the free market should be allowed to determine its viability.”

The NRA has gone on the record saying "smart gun" technology is less than trustworthy, and they have led the fight to prohibit sales of the Armatix weapon.

"I mean, that's so freakin' hypocritical," Raymond told TheBlaze. "It's the opposite of everything we pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment are saying. You are not supposed to say a gun should be prohibited. Then you are being no different than the anti-gun people who say an AR-15 should be prohibited.”

Raymond agrees the weapon probably isn't the best for self or home defense, but he thought people who were curious about guns or perhaps were considering their first purchase of a weapon, might have been won over by the Armatix option.

Raymond reiterated to TheBlaze, "If you are pro-gun, does it matter what kind of gun the person has?"

The Armatix iP1 pistol will only shoot if it is within range of the RFID enabled watch (Image source: Armatix).

Previously, the Oak Tree Gun Club in southern California was the only place in the country interested buyers could purchase the Armatixs gun. However, after run-ins with gun rights activists, the club also caved to pressure and pulled the weapon from its shelves.

Raymond told TheBlaze he took down the 12-minute rant video, which was deleted as this article went to press, because he "said a few things that I shouldn't have said."

"I would never be a traitor, I would never want to see that law triggered in New Jersey," Raymond said.

"We believe in choice, and that this might have helped people on the fence become gun owners. You know, like we have a lot of customers in here want to get their girlfriends into guns ... they'll bring them in here and get them a pink gun or they'll buy them a .22, you cater to your girlfriend ... and I thought that is what we could do with the Armatix," he said.

"To me, this was the liberal form of that," Raymond insisted.

Raymond told TheBlaze he got a call minutes earlier that the New Jersey law may get a second look.

"Apparently the lady that had something to do with originally passing it is going to do something about it," he said. "That would be the best possible outcome, to get the law changed."

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(H/T: Bearing Arms)

Follow Elizabeth Kreft (@elizabethakreft) on Twitter.