Actually, I am vehemently opposed to registration.
I don't think people on either side of the argument are necessarily ethical or unethical. Registration is not an ethics issue.
My understanding is some people believe (falsely, IMO) that registration is somehow linked to safety. Many others seem to be ambivalent about the topic and don't seem to care because it is such a small amount of government over-reach. Still others actively welcome the regulation because they see it as the beginning of more regulations and rules for the hobby (which they see as a good thing).
I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt and also believe that the majority are ethical. When I read things like the post that prompted my original reply, it makes me wonder.
Yes, everyone is entitled to an opinion. It doesn't make that opinion correct and it is especially frustrating when the opinion is based on a false premise.
I have to disagree on what you feel got us into this position. You can take just about any item and find people dangerously misusing it on YouTube. It seems a by-product of the Jackass generation... they see stupid, dangerous things on MTV and figure they can do it and be a celebrity too. This behavior is not limited to drones.
What got us into this was a perfect storm of BS. It is new exciting tech in a growing segment... the "it" toy for this year's holiday season. Adding to that is military/law enforcement use of "drones." While entirely different, the media uses the term interchangeably for dramatic effect. "Drone strike kills terrorist cell in Afghanistan." followed by "U.S. Government using drones to assassinate American citizens" followed by "Local Sheriff want to use drones to spy on citizens" followed by "Drone spotted near sporting event." There is a strong "drones are evil" narrative, lacking any factual basis.
The public is virtually led to believe that a military drone loaded with ordnance or surveillance gear is pretty much the same as a P3. We know that's hogwash, but the average viewer of mind-numbing trash like "Good Morning America" or "The View" is being bombarded with a message of fear.
This plays well for our do-nothing legislators. They prey on irrational fears of the masses. It gives them a chance to appear they are doing something. So they call the FAA and scream. They hold congressional hearings to discuss the national emergency of all these drones falling from the sky and killing people. It helps us not to notice that they are ruining the economy and stealing from the taxpayers.
(For the record and to answer a question posed in this thread - from the stats I have found indicate there has not been a single fatality caused by a drone. There have been fatalities due to RC model aircraft. Also, there has not been a single drone collision with a manned aircraft. Oddly, there have been several manned aircraft collisions with turtles (see article in Popular Science). To my above point, these turtle collisions have not made the news which explains the lack of public outcry and FAA requirements for turtle registration).
Its about fear and control. Yes, a simple registration and $5 fee is an infinitesimal item in the scheme of things. When you take all those infinitesimal items and add them up, they all of a sudden become quite big. It is then too late to get back what was lost. This happens when people lay down and accept it. It happens faster when people fall for the scam and _thank_ the government for solving the problem which doesn't exist.
There are plenty of other areas with similar issues. Some of these things would be banned today if good people didn't fight for every inch of ground.
Going down kicking and screaming tells the government the people are listening and know about the scam. It is how we keep the government accountable. "If they are that upset about a $5 registration scheme, can you imagine what will happen when we announce phase 2 of the plan? There will be a revolt!"
Another thing to consider is precedent. By allowing the FAA to force registration and regulate these hobby craft, there could be unintended consequences. I believe the AMA is upset and/or threatening a lawsuit because these small hobby craft are now considered aircraft. This subjects them to an entirely new set of rules - rules which are designed for an entirely different type of aircraft. I don't think there is any conspiracy here (I don't think the FAA and congress together have enough of a cumulative IQ to create a conspiracy). I see it more as another government boondoggle that will serve no purpose except to create more jobs in the FAA, allow more government contracts to go to FAA "friends" and give lawyers something to file papers about for years to come.
While the scarecrow, tin man and lion were wetting their pants in fear (along with the entire city), only a little dog had the brains to pull at the curtain and expose the truth. There's a lesson to be learned there.
I'm not saying don't register. I'm not even arguing the point one way or the other - that's been done ad nausem. I'm just pointing out why some of us see it as necessary and over-reaching. I also guarantee it will backfire... by the AMA and manufacturers not fighting against registration (the AMA, at least was all for it according to the FAA documents) they have simply paved the way for more aggressive rules which will hurt sales and make this hobby less fun going forward. The FAA is now emboldened.
That's how I see it.
Sorry for the long post. I apparently ended up on a roll.
