Another drone shooting. This is not going to go away.

[Nemo288]

Hillview man arrested for shooting down drone; cites right to pr - WDRB 41 Louisville News

I think the authorities acted a little (ok, a lot) over zealously, but they really have no current legal guidance.
If it turns out we have no expectation of aerial privacy, our homes and the land they sit on are going to look very different in the future.
These things must easy to damage as I have seen several of these stories and not every shooter was a skeet or trap champion.

 

[Peak53]

Seems like the video on the drone should have been confiscated as potential evidence in a crime

 

[jlrhiner]

Interesting. They could have been watching the children, (there are all kinds of videos on youtube of drones videoing girls in bikinis) casing a neighbors property, looking through windows, (ala peeping toms) and after the drone flies over his property, the dude shoots it down.

While reading the comments, all the drone owners want him prosecuted for it. But none of then commented on the actions of the operators, justifying it by claiming they "were just taking photo's" at someone else's request.

My view; If I come out and your drone is hovering over my granddaughter, you'll need a new one.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

My view; If I come out and your drone is hovering over my property, you'll need a new one.

Yessireebob!

 

[hoc9sw]

Your drone comes to my window, it dies. You come to complain? Not a smart move.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Too bad it's illegal to discharge a firearm in this county. But I'm pretty good with a slingshot.

 

[Fastbolt]

I thought I read where LAPD might've lost this one? Dunno, as I don't own a drone and don't keep up on this new area of the law.
LAPD Seeks to Ban Drones Over Police Stations | Officer.com

As far as the gentleman in KY ...

He mentioned "To me, it was the same as trespassing.". Okay, let's ask a couple simple questions. Does KY allow someone to shoot trespassers who aren't offering the threat of imminent serious bodily injury or death? Would he have been charged with the "first degree wanton endangerment" section reported if he'd discharged his shotgun into the air (in that area with neighbors very close) for a trespasser?

The damage to the personal property of the owner(s) is another matter, perhaps, and one which I known nothing about regarding KY's law. However, say the drone - or someone else's remotely controlled model airplane - were to have made a landing in the gentleman's backyard. Would he have felt entitled to have intentionally damaged it because it was on his property?

I won't presume to speculate about this incident, other than to offer that over the course of my career in LE, I've seen no particular shortage of otherwise normal folks sometimes make some rash decisions, or think they had the "right" to do something, and that thinking got them into trouble that could've easily been avoided.

 

[scooter123]

A lot of communities have laws against the discharge of firearms within city limits. However, is a Paintball gun a Firearm and would one have enough power to bring down a low flying drone? Fact is these things are becoming a serious problem in regards to violating Flight Paths and I would consider them a potentially serious invasion of my privacy if one were hovering overhead.

 

[SeamasterSig]

This guy displayed sound and reasonable judgment. I hope his neighbors back him up in their statements and that he is ultimately vindicated.

 

[Nemo288]

I am thinking even a good hose job might bring one down if it got close enough.
I use a hose professionally (work at a pool and clean it when closing) and am pretty good with it.
The law is barely catching up with the internet (and not doing a great job so far).
It will be interesting to see how this develops vis a vis the constitution and local interpretations thereof.

Since shooting at a drone is considered the same as shooting at an airplane by the FAA (and thus a federal crime),
does it not follow that operating one without a license should carry a susbstantial penalty as well?
Airplanes normally have to operate within strict guidelines of all sorts.
I don't understand why drones do not currently.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Airplanes normally have to operate within strict guidelines of all sorts.
I don't understand why drones do not currently.

Did you watch the OP's linked video? Guidelines are clearly referenced.

 

[Rastoff]

It's easy to bring down a drone. Damage a propeller even a little and they become unbalanced and can't fly. One pellet from a shotgun cloud will do it.

 

[Nemo288]

Did you watch the OP's linked video? Guidelines are clearly referenced.

I am the OP and did not watch the video as it doesn't play on my browser.
I probably did not allow the right script.
I only allow what is needed to read a story.
If it requires 15 more Javascripts and sites to show something I don't bother.
Allowing all scripts and sites is a good way to pick up malware.
Sorry if I posted without all the facts presented.

 

[jlrhiner]

I thought I read where LAPD might've lost this one? Dunno, as I don't own a drone and don't keep up on this new area of the law.
LAPD Seeks to Ban Drones Over Police Stations | Officer.com

As far as the gentleman in KY ...

He mentioned "To me, it was the same as trespassing.". Okay, let's ask a couple simple questions. Does KY allow someone to shoot trespassers who aren't offering the threat of imminent serious bodily injury or death? Would he have been charged with the "first degree wanton endangerment" section reported if he'd discharged his shotgun into the air (in that area with neighbors very close) for a trespasser?

The damage to the personal property of the owner(s) is another matter, perhaps, and one which I known nothing about regarding KY's law. However, say the drone - or someone else's remotely controlled model airplane - were to have made a landing in the gentleman's backyard. Would he have felt entitled to have intentionally damaged it because it was on his property.

I won't presume to speculate about this incident, other than to offer that over the course of my career in LE, I've seen no particular shortage of otherwise normal folks sometimes make some rash decisions, or think they had the "right" to do something, and that thinking got them into trouble that could've easily been avoided.

I believe, from the story, it was the action of the drone. So if a trespasser is leering at my granddaughter, or peering in my windows, or recording the contents of my carport with a video camera, hello to Mr. Rock Salt.

 

[Nemo288]

Can you make a citizen's arrest on a drone?

 

[erics]

reckless endangerment - heck he hit what he was shooting at!

 

[mcmaniac]

Folks in Deer Trail Colorado had a referendum to allow drone hunting and even sold drone hunting licenses for a while. They voted down the measure, but it sure made the news for a while. They were looked upon as the ultimate rednecks by the media but I kind of admired their sentiments.
Anytime you discharge a weapon inside the city limits around here you risk charges and potential loss of your rights in the future. What about collateral damages and knowing what is beyond your intended target?
I would prefer to keep my firearms from being confiscated and not have my carry permit revoked. I would save my ammunition for more serious threats.

 

[Bob R]

I don't know why he resorted to his shotgun, by his own admission he had his 40mm Glock openly carried when approached by the owners of the trespassing drone. With that kind of firepower he could take out a B17, much less a drone.

bob

 

[Watchdog]

And this happened in Bullitt County!

 

[Rangerpat]

I'll just use one of my ex-wife's flying monkeys to attack any drones in my neighborhood!