Will it take the downing of a major passenger jet and death of scores of people before more is done?

And on the recreational v privacy rights side, perhaps when some in the "gated" communities start seeing their sacred privacy destroyed as these damned things hover by their windows, will we see the tide turn for stronger restrictions?

Depends on what you are willing to spend.

I fly RC planes and we have a flight ceiling of about 400 ft. We don't fly within 3 miles of an airport, especially on the apporach path.
It is technically possible to build a system that will fly at those distances with off the shelf equipment but it doesn't serve the interest of recreational fliers.
I would expect this was a rogue with less than good intentions or a commercial or government operation.
I don't think most GoPro's could see piss at 2KM so why would I fly that high?

It's idiocy from those types of people that is going to ruin it for everyone.

Expect them to be regulated out of existence for private individuals.

My mate's dad was an amateur balloonist. Before he was able to go up up and away on his own he had to pass an exam on air law. This was a huge tome and he needed to know all of this. For drones there's a just leaflet that comes with the kit, and sometimes they don't even include that.

This bill is aimed at not only the multi-rotor drones, but RC model airplanes too! The aim of this bill is to regulate model aircraft (and their operators!) with the same standards as applies to REAL aircraft - and I'm not exaggerating either! The government would have me take a test and be qualified as a competent pilot - the same as any private pilot - as well as have my planes inspected and registered before I can fly them! And I'd be expected to keep my license and my airplane registrations current (read that: FEES!) And this is all because of the god damned multi-rotor drone plague - which ANYONE can buy without any qualifying or registration and fly right outta the box. 2000 meters is EASILY attainable with many of the ready-to-fly ones OR with a custom-built one that can be built from the vast array of component parts that are readily available. And before you think "how the hell could someone control something that was up that high??? Well, alot of these "drones" have programmable options to where they can fly themselves as programmed.... OR - what's the rage of late: FPV, which stands for First Person View. FPV works by a camera on the drone that transmits it's view - real time - back to the person controlling it. So it's VERY possible to fly one well beyond the range of normal eyesight.

After a 35-year hiatus from the model plane hobby, I started building a plane last year. But with the impending heavy hand of the FAA and congress, I'm thinking: Fuck It!

And if you think it's no big deal that some "toy airplanes" are legislated into the ground, do some research as to how many of our aviation pioneers got their inspiration and their start in model aviation.

The primary model aircraft association (the AMA) was quick to embrace the stampede of multi-rotor drones when they started to proliferate a couple of years ago. Even when the damned things started to be a threat and a nuisance, the AMA figured it could turn things around be coming up with a safety program to inform drone owners that there are certain rules governing the operation of model aircraft (their thinking here is inspired by the fact that kids aren't getting into traditional old "model building", so let's embrace the "out-of-the-box" shit that they ARE interested in). But all that really did was bring the FAA's big magnifying glass upon the AMA and what appeared to be their providing of a haven for the troublesome toys. Never mind that model aviation has been practiced even BEFORE the Wright brothers got it right - now ANY miniature flying thing is gonna be regulated! And while I HATE this development, I can also see the FAA's CYA approach. WHEN a crash finally happens and causes death and/or destruction, the FAA is gonna wanna show that they were already aware of the impending tragedy.