Abody Steering column lock-out tube slides up and down?

Good evening, i am going to try my best in describing my small issue with my steering column. Long story short i removed the steering column completely to sand and paint it one solid clean color. After installing everything back on the car i notice that the lock-out tube (the one that slides into the steering tube and is also protecting the actual steering rod) slides up and down. Am i missing something here? isnt the lock-out tube suppose to be well ...locked in place? OR is this normal OR do i need the lockout tube? Im only saying that is because i cut the tab off it years ago to install a floor shifter (auto) when i was a teenager on this forum.

I hate asking dumb questions like this but i don't have another mopar vehicle to compare it to; i haven't seen this problem with anyone else / no one mentions it(if its even a problem). I use to have a ton of Mopar cars but now the herd has shrunk to only 2 so i cant say let me go outside and push/pull on the tube to see if it slides in/out.

I have the steering column disassembled at the moment and ordering a few new parts

Steering column is from a 1972 Dodge demon / power steering / auto transmission

I'll try to shoot a few pictures tomorrow in case some guys/girls dont understand what i am saying. thanks Mopar Fam.