Joseph McMillan wrote:

I agree completely that this is a state matter, and there’s a considerable record of debates on this issue in the old forum, if the archives are ever available again.  (Not carping, I know T.R.‘s otherwise occupied at the moment.)

That said, I’m not sold, as I once was, on the need for official heraldic registration offices.  I think that if some form of legal protection of arms is necessary, it can be secured by less expensive and intrusive means than state heraldic establishments.

Would you please tell us what lead you to that conclusion?  I would appreciate your insight. Thank you

I’m posting a reply to Ed’s question over to the thread on Status of Arms in the US, which is designed for discussions of this kind of issue.

Sorry Patrick.