How is this currently being done ? I ' m pretty sure I was automatically registered , I have no memory of actually doing anything . One day after I turned 18 I just started getting voter cards in the mail . <| sep |> This brings to mind the words of a member of the International Brigades , who was asked what thought made him enlist If I can shoot rabbits , then I can shoot fascists . While true , it doesn ' t mean you should use the same rifle . I ' m not so down on the 1022 as Potss , and I do own one that I tricked out a bit along with a . 243 , a . 308 and a shotgun , but it ' s important to be aware of their limitations . As stated , limited range , and not good for game that ' s more than knee high . While not worthless for self defense , they are entirely useless against even light body armor . Their complete lack of recoil makes it easy to shoot accurately two or three times a second , so practicing using it defensively means learning to quickly triple tap a face sized target . Ammo for them is dirt cheap , so if you want to prepare for the apocalypse with a thousand rounds and only have $ 100 to spend , you ' ll be equipped to eat rabbits for years . Most of the bad things about a . 22 rifle also apply to weaker handguns , like . 22 , . 25 , . 32 SW , and maybe . 380 , all of which are less accurate and have worse effective range , so I don ' t mean to single 1022 s out . If you live in a state as I do where concealed carry permits are next to impossible to get , and open carry is illegal , the standard 1022 with 18 barrel , or carbine with 16 , can be equipped with a folding stock that makes it the rough equivalent of a . 22 handgun with greatly improved accuracy and significantly improved power , so from a legal perspective , it can be versatile and fairly decent . Shot placement is the key factor in stopping power , and some assailants will stop attacking the moment they ' re shot , regardless of the firearm concerned , so if you become an excellent shot with it , it might get you by , it ' s just iffy . 5 . 56 s or . 223 s , though illegal for hunting larger game , are much better for shortmedium range defense , as are 7 . 62 x 39 s , and . 243 or . 308 work at any range .