NH Among States With Tougher Laws On Drones Than Assault Rifles, Critics Say

BOSTON (CBS) – Recent mass shootings like the one in San Bernardino have re-ignited the debate over who and how people can get high-powered weapons.

And now some critics are pointing out that in just one week it will be tougher to own a drone than an assault rifle in some states, including New Hampshire.

As of December 21 all newly purchased drones weighing over 9 ounces will have to be registered with the FAA before they fly. Current drone owners have until February 19.

"New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, 33 total states don't require a background check or even proof of ID to buy military style assault weapons," Stop Handgun Violence founder John Rosenthal points out.

Drone enthusiasts are also aware of the irony.

Freelance journalist Joshua Kopstein recently wrote an article called "I'll register my drone when you have to register your gun."

"How do we balance our priorities here?" Kopstein told WBZ-TV. "How do we figure out what are the things that are the most dangerous and are going to cause the most problems? And what are the things that are really just scaring us a lot because they're new and we don't know how to deal with them yet?"

Kopstein says he's not against some form of drone regulation. Incidents of drones straying into restricted areas are on the rise, according to researchers.

Rosenthal said gun regulations are a must, especially if other pieces of potentially dangerous equipment are monitored more closely.

"If you're going to regulate automobiles and you're going to regulate drones, why wouldn't you regulate military style assault weapons and large ammunition magazine clips that are the common denominator in every one of the daily mass shootings in our country?" he said.