I would have done the same thing
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/techn...n-drone-hovering-over-his-backyard/ar-AAdGg2x
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/techn...n-drone-hovering-over-his-backyard/ar-AAdGg2x
I think the courts will find his shooting the drone down was fine due to privacy rights. Shooting in town will be an issue. I have vowed to shoot any drone over my property. I live in the country so no problem there. We have a right to protect our privacy. I think the courts will rule on that side.
you'd have to be pretty good to shoot one at 175 yards with a rifle. But honestly I'd give it a try. it's not legal to fly/operate aircraft under 500 feet over occupied buildings. That's an FAA regulation. So you have that going for you in court at least. Some things are worth doing to run through the courts. Now days you have no idea who could be running that drone and for what purpose. People can use them to case your property and you wouldn't even know it. So under 500' I'm gonna try to dust it.Just watch out.....anything above 30 yards is debatable legal airspace for them right now. Odds are the gray area in airspace rights I.E. 85 to 500 feet will get pounded out here soon enough but you pop one at 175 yards your going to jail!
FAA says it's illegal to operate an aircraft below 500' over buildings. I don't think these will meet the definition of aircraft until they reach a certain size. You don't honestly think shooting down someones remote controlled helicopter or plane would be illegal do you? You could get into a civil suit maybe but I don't think a legal issue. Do we call everything a drone now? I think there is no doubt going to be a federal battle over this stuff now. And it's probably due. These so called drones have to operate under FAA rules from what I understand. It's going to be interesting. I think in the end a person will be allowed to protect his airspace above his home to a certain altitude.I'm not real sure about this one, if it is considered shooting down an aircraft, he could be in some real trouble. I think drones have their place, however, there needs to be regulations governing their safe operation. Flying them as to interfere with air traffic, such as the one that hindered fire fighting a few weeks back should have criminal penalties, as should spying on your neighbors. I would not be happy having one hovering over my back yard and am sure it would have some kind of an accident too. I guess I will buy one at some point,but I have enough open country to be able to use it without pissing off my neighbors.