Father, Son Caught By Surprise As Drone Shot Out Of Sky

Mut1ny said:
Destruction of private property. If the deputy couldn't find a crime with what happened he needs to be fired.
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No he doesn't need to be fired.

It may not be as simple as you make it.

Was it destruction of private property? Sure. Was it trespass or a privacy law being broke? Harder to say? So is it criminal or civil? The distinction of unlawful discharge of a firearm can be explained by not knowing if he was in an area where it was legal or not. Presumably it was legal to discharge his gun there (since it mentions no charges).

Likewise, it may be okay to discharge your pellet gun into the neighbors cat/dog and the police might not be able to do anything about it. But there is always civil court to go after as well.

Not all things are cut and dry....
 
EchtoGammut said:
I'm not afraid of the government, just my neighbors trying to get pictures of my junk. They are always out there with their binoculars, cameras with telescopic lenses and drones trying to take pictures of my junk to sell to their alien contacts. I won't go down like that... not again.
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LOL...

That was hilarious.
 
MongGrel said:
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Except, Amazon is going to sue your ass.
 
Droc said:
Well with most drones having video feeds, if someone starts flying one on my property, near my windows, hovering over my daughter or wife...yah, Id shoot it down too, and use the wreckage to beat in the skull of the owner.
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I'd park my ass in the street and film your life 24/7

What now?
 
Crosshairs said:
and from the same article....

so which is it?
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Do local authorities have to enforce federal laws or is it up to one of the alphabet agencies to do it?

If they do, then CO and every other state with legalized marijuana, has an enforcement problem that needs to be addressed.
If they do not, then the local sheriff's dept was not the right authority to call.

It is hard to say what the FAA can or will do about the triple A fire multi rotors that stray to close to other people's homes seem to be facing. Whatever they do end up doing will become the standard. If they do nothing long enough, that will become the standard.
 
Gavv said:
No he doesn't need to be fired.

It may not be as simple as you make it.

Was it destruction of private property? Sure. Was it trespass or a privacy law being broke? Harder to say? So is it criminal or civil? The distinction of unlawful discharge of a firearm can be explained by not knowing if he was in an area where it was legal or not. Presumably it was legal to discharge his gun there (since it mentions no charges).

Likewise, it may be okay to discharge your pellet gun into the neighbors cat/dog and the police might not be able to do anything about it. But there is always civil court to go after as well.

Not all things are cut and dry....
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Just because he did not know does not make discharge of a firearm legal... And no shooting a cat or dog is never legal unless your life is threatened and you are not trespassing...

The "discharge of a firearm within city limits" is ILLEGAL here is an excerpt from tenn law after a quick search... from the video posted from the drone they were in a suburban area not rural...

11.12.080 Discharging weapons.
A. It is unlawful for any person to discharge or fire any firearm within the
urban services district of the metropolitan government at any time, and
within the general services district of the metropolitan government during
the nighttime.

For the purposes of this section, the word "nighttime" means that period of
time beginning at thirty minutes after dusk and ending thirty minutes prior
to sunrise.


B. It shall further be unlawful for any person to fire or discharge any air
gun or air pistol, spring gun or spring pistol, or other device or firearm
which is calculated or intended to propel or project a bullet, pellet, air
or similar projectile, whether propelled by spring, compressed air or gases,
explosive or other force-producing means, within the urban services district
of the metropolitan government.

C. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, nothing in this
section is intended to prohibit the discharge or firing of any firearms by
anyone:

1. While in the lawful performance of duty as an officer of the law; or

2. Within a legally established shooting range or shooting gallery where
precautions have been taken to insure the protection of human life and
property; or

3. Lawfully engaged in hunting, as permitted by the state, upon any property
located within the urban services district of the metropolitan government;
or

4. Legally defending person or property. (Ord. 99-1775 § 1, 1999; Amdt. 1
with Ord. 99-1649 § 1, 1999; Amdt. 1 to Ord. 96-295, 6/4/96; Ord. 96-295 §
1, 1996)


In all likelihood the gun user will try to say he is protected by subsection C article 4 of the codified law in he was legally defending his property however that was meant to protect from harm not drones his grievance vs the drone op at best was civil he should be facing criminal charges for reckless endangerment and discharge of a firearm within city limits...

Gorankar said:
Do local authorities have to enforce federal laws or is it up to one of the alphabet agencies to do it?

If they do, then CO and every other state with legalized marijuana, has an enforcement problem that needs to be addressed.
If they do not, then the local sheriff's dept was not the right authority to call.

It is hard to say what the FAA can or will do about the triple A fire multi rotors that stray to close to other people's homes seem to be facing. Whatever they do end up doing will become the standard. If they do nothing long enough, that will become the standard.
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Both federal and state laws are to be upheld it is the state's attorney general who decides which crimes have enough evidence to be prosecuted. However in this case the gunner is in violation of state and city ordinance as well as federal firearms laws...
 
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He'd probably shoot you. And I p
chaikovski2002 said:
Sounds like your precious drone is going to have an accident off camera. Thats unfortunate, all those broken pieces, I hear theyre expensive!
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He'd probably shoot you. And I probably wouldn't feel too bad about it.
 
Yeah, but if you are flying a noisy, low flying, video recording drone over someones personal property and it gets shot with a shotgun in a Stand Your Ground state, running in there after it gets shot down and attacking the guy with the shotgun might not be the smartest move in the world.

Got me, but is a point to consider.
 
Gorankar said:
Do local authorities have to enforce federal laws or is it up to one of the alphabet agencies to do it?

If they do, then CO and every other state with legalized marijuana, has an enforcement problem that needs to be addressed.
If they do not, then the local sheriff's dept was not the right authority to call.
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Valid questions that I honestly dont know the answer to .
 
the linked article said:
News 2 chose not to identify the man who shot at the drone in the most recent incident in Murfreesboro since he was not charged with a crime.

The responding deputy could not identify a law that had been broken.
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Uhh, destruction of property?

Unlawful weapons discharge?
 
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Damn Dirty Ape said:
Yeah we fly them just to upset everyone on purpose. It couldn't be that we enjoy the FLYING part of it for our own reasons. Wow.
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If you actually enjoyed just flying them, you would stick to using vacant areads, parks, or other common use places and not risk your stuff.

You would also want to see people not annoy other people, justified or not, to protect your hobby.
 
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SuicidalGoat said:
Why do you need an actual gun? I am sure a paintball marker is plenty enough to bring one down and doesn't bring the issues a firearm would. Take out one toy with another toy.
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Good solution for city dwellers. But we where just have a paint ball fight and his drone was so low it got in our way.
 
nutzo said:
Good solution for city dwellers. But we where just have a paint ball fight and his drone was so low it got in our way.
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I am suspect of the accuracy of the paint ball gun...
 
I appreciate technology (as most of us do) and appreciate some good drone footage. That said, I think there is a fine line that needs to be walked. I do not believe drones should be flown above residential areas. Not only is it a privacy risk (how many of you pervs are looking for the lady sunbathing topless), but it is a hazard. What happens when your drone falls out of the sky and hits someone? Then what?

You are not allowed (at least here and I believe most places) RC airplanes except in designated areas or away from people (the desert). We actually have an RC airfield here. How are drones not regulated the same? I do not want to limit peoples fun, but when people are stupid what are you supposed to do?

I would have no problem shooting a drone down. And for the guy who believes he is going to "beat ass" for getting a drone shot down, you need to rethink what you are saying. Obviously, if someone shoots down your drone he has a gun. Go ahead and confront him aggressively please, Darwin will win. Go somewhere to fly your drone for fucks sake. There is no need to fly them in residential or populated areas.
 
This stuff will have to get worked out in court, probably several dozen times unfortunately. I don't think there is a good blanket rule to cover these issues. But I will say, the first time someone flies one into an airport and there are casualties, I bet there will be stricter shit imposed. Good arguments for some college class I guess...
 
Borgschulze said:
If someone flew one near me in my yard, I'd shoot it down if I had a gun too.
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Yeah, except you really wouldn't. You'd say you would on the internet, but not really, lets be honest.

Or let me guess, if the neighbors dog is barking, and that's annoying, you'd shoot it?

If a loud Harley drives past your house, you'd shoot it?

But thanks for giving firearm owners a bad name, appreciate it.
 
Lunas said:
Just because he did not know does not make discharge of a firearm legal
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No, it's not "he doesn't know", it's "we don't know" whether or not he was in an area where it was legal to fire his gun. Unincorporated county areas can look very much like suburban areas, so the video tells us nothing. The fact that the shooter was not and will not be charged with anything is much more telling.

If drone operators want their toys to be respected, then drone operators need to respect boundaries. They also need to respect the fact that the US is a nation in which the gun lobby has very successfully defended the people's right to protect their property with guns.
 
After reading this thread I want a drone even more now. Grab some of those HD Fat Shark goggles too and find out which neighbors have good aim. Can we get drone insurance coverage yet? Might have to purchase some google glasses to have on me just in case they come at me on some hostility mission. Or just introduce them to Atlas with a couple mods. Get em Atlas
 
swimming pool said:
I love the limited mental capacity of the shoot 'em up crowd.

Uhhhh.... see, got to shoot them drones to protect the boobs.
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It was more or less a joke. The amount of women who do this is very minimal these days. Its not about "shoot 'em up", its about not wanting a drone flying over my property with a camera that could potentially fall out of the sky and hit my kid while he plays. And please tell me that it wont happen. You will soon see stories of this as drones become more popular. While the early adopters are usually more responsible, not everyone is going to be like that.
 
DPI said:
a.k.a Trump Nation
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That comment is about as stupid and naive as the people that fall into the "shoot em up" mindset.

CreatedTheMultiverse said:
What group of people actually commit the most gun violence in the USA every year.? Must be Trump Nation. Not! Stupid people are quick to resort to using guns, period.
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Exactly. One only needs to look at any major city in the US. Stupid people of all races, genders, and political leanings own guns...both legally and illegally.
 
Lunas said:
Just because he did not know does not make discharge of a firearm legal... And no shooting a cat or dog is never legal unless your life is threatened and you are not trespassing...

The "discharge of a firearm within city limits" is ILLEGAL here is an excerpt from tenn law after a quick search... from the video posted from the drone they were in a suburban area not rural...


In all likelihood the gun user will try to say he is protected by subsection C article 4 of the codified law in he was legally defending his property however that was meant to protect from harm not drones his grievance vs the drone op at best was civil he should be facing criminal charges for reckless endangerment and discharge of a firearm within city limits...

Both federal and state laws are to be upheld it is the state's attorney general who decides which crimes have enough evidence to be prosecuted. However in this case the gunner is in violation of state and city ordinance as well as federal firearms laws...
Click to expand...

Again as a couple have tried to tell you it is not always black and white where things lay out as to urban, city, etc. The fact he wasn't charge with unlawful discharge speaks volumes.

In some places it is legal to shoot dogs and cats. I can shoot cats here where I live. In the city, in the county, and no one will do a thing criminally. However, a pet owner can take me to civil court if they have seen me shoot their cat. Secondly, if your town has leash laws, it is not very had to say the dog was approaching in a threatening manner and had to be put down. We have had at least 2-3 instances of this in the past year and half where no one has been charged. Now the owners are again free to take it to a civil court if they want.... But they might not find what they are looking for. So in short. You are partially right. It is really dependent on where you live. The blanket statement is utter BS though.

It is amazing that you know exactly what this person is guilty of... I am sure you should be in law enforcement if your're not... preferably in Chicago... it needs cleaned up... Go get em Tiger :D
 
Gorankar said:
Do local authorities have to enforce federal laws or is it up to one of the alphabet agencies to do it?

If they do, then CO and every other state with legalized marijuana, has an enforcement problem that needs to be addressed.
If they do not, then the local sheriff's dept was not the right authority to call.

It is hard to say what the FAA can or will do about the triple A fire multi rotors that stray to close to other people's homes seem to be facing. Whatever they do end up doing will become the standard. If they do nothing long enough, that will become the standard.
Click to expand...

Probably up to the alphabet agencies.

The local police here in my town in WA don't enforce the Marijuana laws... Unless you're dealing (not a business) and have large quantities.
 
arent drones considered light aircraft since you have to register them with the FAA? I am sure there are a few laws regarding shooting down aircraft that could pose a problem at the federal level heh. I would say that if the drone is violating the air rights of your property you have a right to remove it from said property, if they are flying at an elevation beyond this you should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Seems fair to me.
 
Borgschulze said:
On the street is not the same as hovering over your property.

Most people with Nitro RC cars are smart enough not to be driving them in the street.

Privacy is the concern with drones... usually they have a camera attached... which means people are seeing things they have no business seeing.

Such as people sunbathing in their yard...
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Agreed. If you're flying around someones yard then you're in the wrong. Excellent way to case someones house.

Now my understanding, legally, anything not on the ground is controlled by the FAA. Meaning a drone can be in your fenced backyard 2 inches from your house looking into your windows and it would still be legal. Someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong. There obviously needs to be some common sense with ordinances where you can't fly the things, both for privacy and safety concerns. I can go outside and safely shoot rifles in the back, but the close proximity of the other residents would be damn annoying for them. Probably why there are local ordinances prohibiting it.

Use some common sense and go to an area with less people, don't fly in close proximity to others houses, don't buzz by people.
 
Generally, I think my opinions would be on the more liberal side of things... but frankly, I'm totally with homeowners on this. If I had my own house (the only reason I don't is because it's a bit pointless atm), you're not flying anything with a freaking camera anywhere near it. We humans need our personal spaces and we have fences for a reason. Government won't spy on me like that unless there's a good reason. Google wouldn't either. Privacy isn't dead. Some types of information privacy is easy to lose, but this is a totally different matter.

You flying a POS with a camera in my back yard is something I refuse to tolerate, and I frankly fully understand the feeling of not wanting to be captured by some guy/girl looking down on you via a monitor, going about your business as if he/she was above your personal rights.

That being said, using a firearm is a bit risky. I think a more fun (but expensive) way to resolve this, that no one can really do anything about (it's probably a gray area) is creating an attack drone that's specifically made to take down other people's drones. I have some more than adequate knowledge of microcontrollers, so with a bit of fiddling around I could probably build an attachment to a drone specifically made to go out and subdue/capture other drones (supposing there would be sufficient lift for the extra payload). After capturing one of those drones in said manner, I would simply fly it back to my property. Then I won't allow the owner to take it back (probably need to make my custom attachment take out the camera so they can't tell where it's getting taken back). Naturally they'll probably sue me if they find out, but this would at least start a judicial-level discussion on where it's legal for them to fly it... hopefully. Plus, I really wonder what laws I'd be breaking when my drone just casually swipes someone else's out of the air and lands it in my yard as part of an automatic procedure without me "really knowing". I think the realistic worst case is that I just have to give it back to them. Heh. Entertaining possibilities. I almost feel like going out and doing it. Maybe my alignment is neutral evil.

Edit: Looks like someone created a non-physical way to do this already:
SkyJack: The drone that hijacks other drones in mid-air

Edit2: Or maybe it already exists, though I was thinking of doing something a bit more... involved. >_>
When drones attack other drones
 
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This article is so vague as to be pointless. Where was the drone? Where was the house? Where was the drone in relation to the house of the person who shot it? As for the drone being an aircraft, don't forget aircraft have to file flight plans to and from and whatnot, so drones aren't exactly like aircraft in terms of that.
- If you are a lawful drone operator flying your drone out in an open public field or space (where there is no question of property ownership) then the shooter would be at fault.
- If you are flying your drone in your neighborhood (in the city), then the shooter is wrong.
- If you are flying your drone in your neighborhood out in the country / boondocks / unincorporated lands ... well that's where the he said / she said comes in.

Like gun-owners, I'm sure for every law abiding "good" gun owner, there are "good" drone owner/operators. And likewise there are dumbasses with guns and dumbasses with drones.

IIRC I believe in a past case, one homeowner was exonerated by the courts from shooting down a drone because it had hovered directly over his fenced in property / backyard where his daughter was sun-bathing. So extenuating circumstances / case by case will definitely always be a factor.
 
StoleMyOwnCar said:
Generally, I think my opinions would be on the more liberal side of things... but frankly, I'm totally with homeowners on this. If I had my own house (the only reason I don't is because it's a bit pointless atm), you're not flying anything with a freaking camera anywhere near it. We humans need our personal spaces and we have fences for a reason. Government won't spy on me like that unless there's a good reason. Google wouldn't either. Privacy isn't dead. Some types of information privacy is easy to lose, but this is a totally different matter.

You flying a POS with a camera in my back yard is something I refuse to tolerate, and I frankly fully understand the feeling of not wanting to be captured by some guy/girl looking down on you via a monitor, going about your business as if he/she was above your personal rights.

That being said, using a firearm is a bit risky. I think a more fun (but expensive) way to resolve this, that no one can really do anything about (it's probably a gray area) is creating an attack drone that's specifically made to take down other people's drones. I have some more than adequate knowledge of microcontrollers, so with a bit of fiddling around I could probably build an attachment to a drone specifically made to go out and subdue/capture other drones (supposing there would be sufficient lift for the extra payload). After capturing one of those drones in said manner, I would simply fly it back to my property. Then I won't allow the owner to take it back (probably need to make my custom attachment take out the camera so they can't tell where it's getting taken back). Naturally they'll probably sue me if they find out, but this would at least start a judicial-level discussion on where it's legal for them to fly it... hopefully. Plus, I really wonder what laws I'd be breaking when my drone just casually swipes someone else's out of the air and lands it in my yard as part of an automatic procedure without me "really knowing". I think the realistic worst case is that I just have to give it back to them. Heh. Entertaining possibilities. I almost feel like going out and doing it. Maybe my alignment is neutral evil.

Edit: Looks like someone created a non-physical way to do this already:
SkyJack: The drone that hijacks other drones in mid-air

Edit2: Or maybe it already exists, though I was thinking of doing something a bit more... involved. >_>
When drones attack other drones
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Don't get me wrong.

I feel like drones like this can be an invasion of privacy as well, I'm just opposed to people taking things into their own hands in ANY situation.

If you have a concern about a neighbor's drone use, call the cops, file a complaint, sue them if you have to. Vigilante "justice" is never the solution, no matter what the crime is.
 
Dregan73 said:
if somebody shoots at my drone im straight beat there ass
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Might want to keep in mind that most shotguns hold more then 1 round....


If a drone is low enough in my backyard that #9 shot will bring it down, it was in my private airspace, not Federal air space.
 
Shooting a drone down, even over private property is retarded. The amount of court battle that is going to be if the person fights you for destruction of property, and/or unlawful discharge of a firearm, versus just filing a restraining order for invasion of privacy, nuisance, or fighting for second degree trespass (hard to do with no damages, but you might find a reasonable judge that is grumpy enough) makes it completely not worth it unless you have time and money to blow on being a sociopath. Litigation is not fun when it comes to discharging a firearm, and you're risking your rights being taken away in many places. In my life, there would be one verbal warning, a non-emergency 911 call, and then escalating from there, there would be petition for an order for protection at my local court house the first day I could get there. The expectation of reasonable privacy very much matters here, in almost every state. Voyeurism/stalker/harassment judicature applies, even though there isn't firm caselaw for it either way yet.

You basically live in a police state -- take advantage of that.
 
The thing people are discounting is that you don't really need to use a "gun" (even a paint marker or BB gun) at all. There are plenty of legal options available, such as a highpressure water hose or electric nailer or nerf gun would work just as well if the drone really is intruding into your space. if it's out of range of those options, then it's likely not on your property in the first place.

If a drone pilot is intentionally going into people's back yards or whatever, then they're going to get what they're going to get.
 
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