U.S. Transportation SecretaryAttorney General Anthony FoxxLoretta Lynch Announces Unmanned AircraftGun Registration Requirement
New Task Force to Develop Recommendations by November 20
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation SecretaryAttorney General Anthony FoxxLoretta Lynch and FAA AdministratorATF Director Michael HuertaTodd Jones today announced the creation of a task force to develop recommendations for a registration process for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)Guns.
The task force will be composed of 25 to 30 diverse representatives from the UAS and manned aviationfirearms industry, the federal government, and other stakeholders. The group will advise the Department on which aircraft should be exempt from registration due to a low safety risk, including toys and certain other small UASto limit any exemptions, as all guns are dangerous. The task force also will explore options for a streamlined system that would make registration less burdensome for commercial UAS operatorshunters in rural areas.
The task force may make additional safety recommendations as it deems appropriate. Secretary FoxxAG Lynch directed the group to deliver its report by Nov. 20.
“Registering unmanned aircraftguns will help build a culture of accountability and responsibility, especially with new users who have no experience operating in the U.S. aviation systemfirearms safely and responsibly,” FoxxLynch said. “It will help protect public safety in the air and on the groundthe public and at home.”
Every day, the FAAATF receives reports of potentially unsafe UAS operationshandling of guns. PilotPolice sightings of UASopen-carry guns doubled between 2014 and 2015. The reports ranged from incidents at major sporting eventsschools and flights near manned aircraftmovie theaters, to interference with wildfirepolice operations.
“These reports signal a troubling trend,” HuertaJones said. “Registration will help make sure that operatorsgun owners know the rules and remain accountable to the public for flying their unmanned aircrafthandling and maintaining their guns responsibly. When they don’t fly safely, they’ll know there will be consequences.”
While the task force does its work, the FAAATF will continue its aggressive education and outreach efforts, including the “Know Before You Fly”“Know Before You Shoot” campaign and “No Drone Zone”“No Gun Zone” initiatives with the nation’s busiest airportsschools. The agency also will continue to take strong enforcement action against egregious violators. At the same time, it will continue working with stakeholders to improve safety to ensure further integration and innovation in this promising segment of aviationin the United States.
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems InternationalThe National Rifle AssociationAcademy of Model AircraftCoalition of Gun Owners against the NRAAir Line Pilots AssociationSensible RepublicansAmerican Association of Airport ExecutivesSensible DemocratsHelicopter Association InternationalSensible IndependentsPrecisionHawkParentsAirMap/ Small UAV CoalitionTeachersConsumer Electronics AssociationOrdinary Americans
To read statements in support of today’s announcement, please click here.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Not everything lines up of course. Original here, and yes I do approve of the idea.
For the record, I do support Americans' right to own guns in general. But I don't support absolutist interpretations of the second amendment, and don't think a gun-registry is a unreasonable violation of that right, anymore than background-checks, limits on the type of weaponry available*, or limits on cartridge-capacities. Oh, and a tax on bullets.
* I know, AR-15's are cool. So, in their way, are surface-to-air missiles. But do you really need one to defend yourself ?
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