Here is something I'd do

public function store()
{
    $input = Input::all();

    $validation = Validator::make($input, User::$rules);

    if ($validation->fails())
    {   
        return Redirect::back()->with('message', 'The form failed to validate.')->withErrors($validation)->withInput();
    }

    User::create($input); // Don't forget to set $fillable array in user model

    // Return user to login form with message.
    return Redirect::to('users/login')->with('message', 'The user was created successfully.'); // No need to redirect him back to /create if successful. One less step for him to log in 
}

And the User model

protected $fillable = array('username', 'email_address', 'password', 'role_id')

public static $rules = array(
    'username' => 'required|min:5|unique:users',
    'email_address' => 'required|email|unique:users',
    'password' => 'required|confirmed|min:5', // confirmed rule looks if password_confirmation is the same so no need to validate it
    'role_id' => 'required|integer'
);

Your controller is a bit cleaner and easier to read now, but all in all your code looks good as is, except for the 'password_confirmation' rule you had.

You could also validate if the User::create() actually worked in a similar way as "if ($validation->fails())"

This looks good however the purpose of this is not a register for anybody to use. This is for an admin who is logged in can fill out a form to create a login for a new user. Also what do you mean with the check to see if the $validation->fails()?

I have also tried the above and I am receiving an error like this:

The HTTP status code "0" is not valid.

Not sure why.

$user = User::create($input);

if($user->fails()) {
    // user not saved, return error
}
// user saved, return ok

jeffreydavidson said:

I have also tried the above and I am receiving an error like this:

The HTTP status code "0" is not valid.

Not sure why.

Might be a typo or something in my code as I didn't check if it works