Posted on 07/21/2013 7:00:39 AM PDT by Zakeet
As Professor Jacobson’s recent pictorial essay noted, there is something for both the left and right to hate about the Obama Administration’s use of drones.
As the co-founder of San Diego’s first Tea Party group, I love the grassroots initiative displayed by the citizens of one Colorado town to address the concerns Americans have over the use of these aerial vehicles over their skies. They propose a new type of hunting license that combines free market savvy while targeting statist government tactics.
The small town of Deer Trail, Colo. is considering a bold move. The town board will be voting on an ordinance that would create drone hunting licenses and offer bounties for unmanned aerial vehicles.Deer Trail resident, Phillip Steel, drafted the ordinance.
“We do not want drones in town,” said Steel. “They fly in town, they get shot down.”
Even though it’s against the law to destroy federal property, Steel’s proposed ordinance outlines weapons, ammunition, rules of engagement, techniques, and bounties for drone hunting.
Of course, Washington’s bureaucratic elites are not nearly as amused as I am:
People who fire guns at drones are endangering the public and property and could be prosecuted or fined, the Federal Aviation Administration warned Friday.The FAA released a statement in response to questions about an ordinance under consideration in the tiny farming community of Deer Trail, Colo., that would encourage hunters to shoot down drones. The administration reminded the public that it regulates the nation’s airspace, including the airspace over cities and towns.
A drone “hit by gunfire could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air,” the statement said. “Shooting at an unmanned aircraft could result in criminal or civil liability, just as would firing at a manned airplane.”
Under the proposed ordinance, Deer Trail would grant hunting permits to shoot drones. The permits would cost $25 each. The town would also encourage drone hunting by awarding $100 to anyone who presents a valid hunting license and identifiable pieces of a drone that has been shot down.
The FAA is relying on the classic “safety first” arguments that are the standard response to reasonable questions about liberty-impinging rules. However, given the use license plate scanners to amass massive and unregulated databases that can be used to track law-abiding citizens paired with Attorney General Eric Holder’s targeting of private citizen George Zimmerman, I think the citizens of Deer Trail have alighted upon an admirable solution.
So, what's not to like about having one of these babies fly over your house and spy on your activities ... I mean, what could possibly go wrong?
Have they found a Taxidermist yet?
You gotta stuff and display.
the only thing I have a problem with is firing up in the air and not knowing where your round will come down.
‘know your backstop’ is a safety rule in shooting that (unless you are deep in the boonies), should be more than given short shrift, when pointing a rifle skyward.
Let me know when they start selling them.
I’ll buy one just to frame and put on the wall.
Just who is flying these drones and for what purpose.? Congress needs to ban government drone flights in the US except by court search warrant and the FAA should crack down on drone flights by groups like PETA.
I think that rather than shooting down drones (if you can even see them), a more technological defense might be in order. I wouldn’t feel bad if a few of these spycraft were to fall from the sky. Especially if they were armed while in domestic airspace.
Why can’t towns pass an ordinance of “no fly zone for drones” - and then drones would be tresspassing - ergo
A tiny town in Maine - passed a “no GMO’S” several years ago - first town in the US to do so. There have been NO GMO’s in that town.
And, BTW, where’s the EPA on the GMO people/soil killing chemicals? I know they don’t care if they’re killing people - but they’re killing bees -
It is unlikely that a person can shoot down a global hawk type predictor. A PETA drone harassing hunters or a nosy neighbor would have a small model airplane type that would be east to bring down. If your property is posted no trespassing and an air vehicle comes within 500 feet of the ground it would be violating my rights.
War!
Before you know it everyone will have a backyard magnetron and array displaying returns on the TV.
The US Gov is out of control.
That’s why need ammo that will explode at altitude.
Flack...yeah, that's the ticket...and a German 88 to launch it...I'm with you.
they may find out what it’s like to be hunted BY a drone
Is there a daily bag limit on drones in Colorado? LOL.
Permits? We don’t need no steekin’ permits...
That thing just needs a good flyswatter. Or bug spray. One of my dogs likes to snap at and/or eat flying bugs that bother her. Our purple martins love high-flying bugs - as do the bats. There are lots of ways to take those things out; no permit needed. (smirk)
There is 20+ acre family compound in La Quinta near Palm Springs that sues everyone who flies a hot air balloon over their property and they have put more than one hot air balloon rental business out of business.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.