Ok so to start off, this post is not intended to start arguments for or against or to start flaming anyone....
I see reaction to the new FAA rules, a few for the new registration, and a vast majority against on many forums on the internet. Some say "Why do we have the AMA, they haven't done anything for us..." or "I'm not going to register, I'll just take my chances, who's gonna check anyway?"
Both are somewhat valid questions and comments but in my opinion, just my opinion and I welcome other opinions as that is how I learn, I think of the whole registration issue as just another hoop we as responsible model aircraft flyers need to put up with so we can enjoy our fantastic hobby. Yes it is a pain in the butt, yes it gives "big brother" another foothold to track us. If you don't want to register then fine don't. If we go back to the AMA issue, there are two things we need to think about. If you are an AMA member then we are already registered, we have a number right now and by rule we are supposed to mark our AMA number, Name, address, and phone number on each aircraft we fly, be it line control, remote control, free flight, indoors or outdoors. I see very few AMA numbers on aircraft at flying events and flying fields. But we belong to the AMA, for the majority of us, for the insurance they provide us (I also enjoy the magazine). Second thing is that what if we didn't have the AMA to represent us, we don't always see what is going on behind the scenes, be it legislation, site development, youth programs ect. What if we didn't have them on this issue, I can almost guarantee that we would have been more upset with what the FAA dictates we would have to do to be able to fly our models. We will never know what might have been because these rules have been tempered by the AMA.
As far as registration, here in Washington state, by law we are supposed to have insurance on our cars before we can take them out on public roads. You don't have to show proof of insurance to purchase, license, or even drive unless you get into an accident or get pulled over by law enforcement officials. If you don't have insurance then you will have financial and possibly criminal penalties to deal with. So if you dont register, then fine don't, but if something were to happen with the aircraft you are flying, it gets away from you, crashes into an airplane, tower, runway or whatever I can almost say with certainty that someone knows that you have that airframe and fly it and in the course of investigations, depending how severe the violation, you will be found out and have penalties to deal with anyway.
So I guess what I am saying is I am not going to let this ruin my fun with this hobby, my friends I fly with and people I will meet in the future at flying events just because I don't want to follow the rules or don't agree with them.