Registration Day, more paper about Earl's life...

I had to register the new pistol, the one I purchased to keep concealed, worn always and forgotten about normally. I have to register all my firearms on Fort Lewis, so I can use the ranges and hunt, and if I ever bump into what I am hunting I could shoot it. Hunting may not be one of my strongest points, but I love looking, tracking and figuring game out. Anyway, off to register I go, since we have a returning Brigade from Iraq there are lots of soldiers processing vehicles and weapons, lots of soldiers making plans for their future and getting settled back into Garrison life after FOB. I have filled out the documentation before and do so again, get a number and wait to be called forward to one of three clerks processing.

I have a long list of firearms already registered, and I understand the effort is to improve the control of the weapons, make sure they have responsible owners and users, and if there were ever a crime committed with a weapon they know which one of us might have that particular weapon. No fired cartridges, and no fired full metal jacket bullet saved, but still they do know that the next time a 9mm is used wrongfully my name could come up. I also have three vehicles registered on post, for vehicles they give you a large sticker so the gate guards can identify registered vehicles - it doesn't make any of the drivers better or safer, but everyone knows it has been registered, had insurance coverage and a licensed driver at the time of registration. On my motorcycle I also had to have an approved motorcycle training course certification and the Army Approval of my motorcycle training. All paperwork must be carried when riding the motorcycle on post, along with reflective gear - since they really frown on stealth motorcycle riders running under cars and trucks of people talking on cell phones.

The registration process is quick, the temporary ten day paperwork lists all my weapons registered and amazes me, the fellow that thinks more than one of anything is a bit too much to carry, but it isn't a really long list like some of the real gun toting crowd - I just like to shoot a bit, and am not completely paranoid yet, so I only have three rifles for real game getting, five for small game, targets and plinking, one shotgun, two authoritative .45s, two .22s with sass, and one lone 9mm. But they are all enough for me. One new twist to the registration process, I got my picture taken, which is now permanently attached to the registration record - yes, they did look at my military ID, and my driver's license - and still they need a picture along with my signature to prove I am me and I have all the rules and am approved for using my firearms responsibly on Fort Lewis. Not a universal, international registration for world wide but good for right here and right now. Let me see, the Federales got my finger prints again for my Concealed Carry, the Post has all my firearms registered and my current picture - the weight is wrong by twenty pounds, but I was so much heavier when eating Frank's Doughnuts and Scones. Still if anyone needed to know about me, there are government agencies that know - I have used my passport for years. Don't you all feel safer, knowing I am totally a registered fellow? I certainly do, but then realize that it was like the TSA, a large waste of money and effort, to make some people feel safer.