With people that that in the general population, you're going to have problems - period. It sucks that we have to deal with the fallout, but that's the trade-off for being able to buy cheap lasers. (Everyone else can buy them too.)
I'm not sure a "laser registry" would help at all. And there's no funding available for an approved "Laser Safety Class" that would be required prior to purchase... No, I think the best we can do is to educate people when these stories come out. Write your newspaper and correct the errors.
Talk to your neighbors. And for Christ's sake don't ever shine your lasers up into the air, especially if there are planes around! Lead by example, as it were.
Wicked Lasers could take a more pro-active stance and offer a little "training" right on their website. That might help too... But they seem to be a bit too cavalier for that.
Adam