Author Topic: The right to shoot at a drone flying over your property. (Read 5921 times)

Ty Marcucci · « **on:** April 30, 2015, 10:40:54 AM »

While reading my email just a few minutes ago, one of those questions popped up. It asked if I had the right to shoot down a drone, (toy helo) flying over my property. I voted NO. The laws in most areas are very clear about open discharge of guns outside the home. Flying over is not assault, so no self defense is needed. Yes it is irritating not knowing what it is doing, videoing your property or you and your family, maybe. Or just some jerk flying around without any knowledge of the laws and simple common sense or courtesy.

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2015, 11:38:20 AM »

Pretty sure it's completely legal to shoot one in Oklahoma as long as discharging a firearm isn't otherwise restricted like living in a city. Seem to remember our governor signing the bill.

Motorman · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2015, 11:46:45 AM »

Well you're going to be video taped when you do it so make sure you're righteous with the law. The other thing is you're shooting up so that shot is going to travel. Isn't there a way to screw it up with a garage door opener or something?

MM

jim gilmore · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2015, 12:03:14 PM »

Guess the question is why

Are you worried about satellites photographing you in your backyard also ?
AS far as shooting at something above your property Your be require to know that what you shoot has to be able to stay only on your property. Guns and even bows have many limitations that make it illegal to shoot towards a roadway. Even if your just hunting on your land. So if you own 20+ acres I doubt you'll have a problem but then again I cannot say for sure that some branch of law enforcement will be kind to you if they are the ones using a drone to see if your dealing drugs or doing something illegal on your property.
As far as a drone flying above 400 feet near an airport, I am pretty sure it would be in violation of existing faa laws to do so right now.

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:24:13 PM »

"Bring 'em on!" I'm sitttin' here waiting for 'em

Howard Rush · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2015, 03:20:08 PM »

As a person who made good money (and whose wife makes really good money) for making airplanes big enough that rednecks can't shoot them down, I guess I should be happy that emergency services, remote sensing, and agricultural services will continue to be provided by large, expensive aircraft.

Sean McEntee · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2015, 03:31:16 PM »

Firearms are a bad idea. A good slingshot on the other hand...

Couple years ago I read a report of a RQ-11 Raven sUAS colliding with an AH-64 Apache. The result was pretty equivelant to bug vs. windshield, and it would have to be something pretty big to bring down an airliner traveling at approach speed.

FAA is pretty busy hammering said people who are committing airspace incursions. Manufacturers should be doing the right thing and providing education on the matter and the AMA is (sorta) trying to as well.

Howard: That just might change in about 20 years or so.

frank mccune · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2015, 03:34:13 PM »

I would check very carefully with a good attorney before shooting at a flying object! I am sure that the Feds would frown on it!!!

Good luck.

Frank McCune

George · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2015, 04:35:53 PM »

Don't shoot 'em, MOON 'em!

George

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2015, 05:15:10 PM »

Disclaimer. Actually, I only shoot at non-moving paper targets.

Gerald Arana · « **Reply #10 on:** April 30, 2015, 06:11:12 PM »

Quote from: FLOYD CARTER on April 30, 2015, 02:24:13 PM

"Bring 'em on!" I'm sitttin' here waiting for 'em

I'm with you Floyd! Haven't shot a clay pigeon in a long time and a drone would be the same thing IMO!

Jerry

Mike Keville · « **Reply #11 on:** April 30, 2015, 06:55:42 PM »

All of this theorizing is a direct result of promotion of those toys by the "Academy of Multirotors and ARFs".

Frank Imbriaco · « **Reply #12 on:** April 30, 2015, 07:03:31 PM »

Quote from: Mike Keville on April 30, 2015, 06:55:42 PM

All of this theorizing is a direct result of promotion of those toys by the "Academy of Multirotors and ARFs".

YES !

tom brightbill · « **Reply #13 on:** April 30, 2015, 07:30:36 PM »

Maybe just follow it back to it's home and have a conversation with it's owner. Most owners are not far away.

Paul Smith · « **Reply #14 on:** April 30, 2015, 08:56:30 PM »

A real modeler would take down the drone with his own personally-built fighter-interceptor.

I heard some drone talk on Fox Business News. The new product is a camera drone which has an autopilot that makes "flying a total no-brainer. It hovers at the commanded altitude and maintains a set position offset from the launch point, except when directed to go elsewhere by the operator (not pilot). The camera has a built-in data link to the controller.

It is software-constrained to 1000 feet horizontal and 350 feet of altitude. The businessman forecasts 100,000 units in Year One.

If you can work a cell phone or an I pad you can work this drone. Absolutely no brains required. Only money.

Norm Faith Jr. · « **Reply #15 on:** April 30, 2015, 09:34:27 PM »

I remember a scene from Magnum PI...Higgins was flying a RC plane out on the lawn of the Villa...all of a sudden there is a loud report...the plane turns to confetti, the camera pans to Magnum standing on the balcony; in his bathrobe, holding a smoking shotgun. It seems that the the little toy plane woke him up.

Norm

Bill Johnson · « **Reply #16 on:** May 01, 2015, 06:22:05 AM »

So now you got me thinking about it, Ty. That's not a good thing.

My son-in-law is building a quad copter that will carry a load. I could easily fit it with small barrel and firing mechanism. Creep up on the offending snooper, shoot a blank into just one of those rotiors and that things coming down.

ChrisSarnowski · « **Reply #17 on:** May 01, 2015, 06:34:43 AM »

Most of the time a quad with a camera is not something you want flying around your house, but I could use one to inspect my roof and gutters. It's a 2 story house and I don't have ladder tall enough.

-Chris

BillLee · « **Reply #18 on:** May 01, 2015, 06:36:18 AM »

Quote from: Sean McEntee on April 30, 2015, 03:31:16 PM

Couple years ago I read a report of a RQ-11 Raven sUAS colliding with an AH-64 Apache. The result was pretty equivelant to bug vs. windshield, and it would have to be something pretty big to bring down an airliner traveling at approach speed.

Sean, how about on of those "bugs" carrying a couple of pounds of C4?

john e. holliday · « **Reply #19 on:** May 01, 2015, 08:00:50 AM »

I know of a real estate company using quad copters to get videos of houses and property to show clients. Of course they were smart enough to get a permit from all the government agencies. Also you can do a google or yahoo map and zero in on your place or the neighbors. Yes, it may be out of date. Last time I looked they don't show that I have no trees on property anymore.

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #20 on:** May 01, 2015, 09:39:12 AM »

All I can say is, that here in AZ a drone flying low over my property will be considered an intruder and brought DOWN!

I, of course, live in a rural area and discharging of firearms is common, especially during hunting season. Besides, I'm only protecting my livestock, which is perfectly legal here. I'll bury the drones right next to the coyotes that harass my horses!

Of course, most folks around here know that a drone flying low here would have a short lifespan!

Good warm up for Quail season.

Welcome to Cowboy Country!

Randy Cuberly

Dennis Toth · « **Reply #21 on:** May 01, 2015, 11:27:44 AM »

Well, before you decide to go all "John Wayne" and bring down an intruder you should remember the a saying an old friend once told me "there are no pretty girls in JAIL".

Best, DennisT

peabody · « **Reply #22 on:** May 01, 2015, 11:43:58 AM »

Regardless of Keville....the AMA is working REAL hard to insure a future for airmodeling.....

louie klein · « **Reply #23 on:** May 01, 2015, 11:45:30 AM »

How about a hot rodded paint ball gun?

EJN · « **Reply #24 on:** May 01, 2015, 12:12:33 PM »

Quote from: Mike Keville on April 30, 2015, 06:55:42 PM

All of this theorizing is a direct result of promotion of those toys by the "Academy of Multirotors and ARFs".

I bet you would crash in 10 seconds if you actually tried flying one.

I like RC micro helis & fly them indoors. It's addictive.

Technically, these are multi-rotor because they are coaxial with
counter-rotating blades, but some real helis use this too.

Here is a $12500 "toy":
http://www.aericam.com/shop/aericam-x6-ready-to-fly/

Larry Borden · « **Reply #25 on:** May 01, 2015, 12:19:32 PM »

PETA was using drones down here to harass hunters. Bad idea. They were shot down.

EJN · « **Reply #26 on:** May 01, 2015, 12:54:50 PM »

And can we stop calling them Drones? They’re just RC helicopters with a camera.

These are drones:

Dick Pacini · « **Reply #27 on:** May 01, 2015, 01:08:52 PM »

My oldest son and his son both fly real surveillance drones for Northrop Grumman under contract overseas. I hear few details because of security.

Avaiojet · « **Reply #28 on:** May 01, 2015, 01:22:41 PM »

I actually have my graphics on a drone that some University built under contract with the Government. That was seven years ago. Probably been shot down by now?

Cowboy Country? Did you know Sky King?

George Strait is my favorite singing cowboy but he's not from AZ. I like his hat shape.

I've been to AZ a couple of times. Nice dry place to Holiday, and I'm not knocking the State, it's great if you like it dry, and my wife and I did give it some consideration, but AZ wasn't the place where we could relocate to live.

Horses? I used to breeze thoroughbreds and thoroughbred wannabes back when I was 21. That was 1967. One thoroughbred in particular, Mastership, an amazing animal, he was just about 16 hands. I actually dated a jocky's daughter, which is the reason I was introduced to thoroughbred racing. What a ride! Pick one?

"An amazing animal." A line from the movie, Seabiscuit.
"What a ride." A line from the movie, Romancing the Stone.

There are horses everywhere, especially in Florida during the training season. Thousands come down.

Most owners are business people or those that just like to ride. You don't see many cowboys down here, although some of the farriers are cowboys. You do see some rednecks, some farriers could be rednecks

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Phil Krankowski · « **Reply #29 on:** May 01, 2015, 01:36:52 PM »

Any RC activity around my house has a short list of usual suspects. The FIRST on the list is a police officer. He is probably the person causing "problems" anyways.

Never had to look further yet.

Phil

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #30 on:** May 01, 2015, 01:43:52 PM »

It does not take any skill to take one of these toy quadcopters out of the box and go fly the damn thing. I could probably teach my dog how to do it. These things are not even in the same class with a built from scratch stunt ship nor is the skill of the operator. I agree, stop calling the stupid things DRONES. Ask Sean what a drone is, he will tell you.

However, all you have to do is follow the money and you see that plainly in every issue of Model Aviation magazine. With the exception of the occassional Control Line article that publication is as worthless as tits or a boar hog to a Control Line builder and pilot. This subject has been brought up on here countless times and after all the posting and extended threads, the conclusions are always the same. We (the control line builder and pilot) are the last of a dying breed. When the Tom Lays and the Lou Woolards and Byron Barkers of the Control Line world have all passed away, and many of them have, there will be nobody to take their place and lets say, take a FOX.40 engine and work the magic on in like Lou and turn it into a Silver Fox. We are losing the real craftsman at an alarming rate now and maybe the afterlife will be these plastic and foam things that AMA, HobbyKing and the likes want to dominate the modelers abode.

I admit it without shame, I am old school like Mike Keville. You realize of course this craze of quadcopters all started after the movie AVATAR. Up until then, you never saw or heard of them.

The things are not going to go away but lets at least recognize them for what they are.

Mike

Phil Krankowski · « **Reply #31 on:** May 01, 2015, 02:45:10 PM »

Quote from: Mike Griffin on May 01, 2015, 01:43:52 PM

...
I admit it without shame, I am old school like Mike Keville. You realize of course this craze of quadcopters all started after the movie AVATAR. Up until then, you never saw or heard of them.

The things are not going to go away but lets at least recognize them for what they are.

Mike

Coincidence. Quadcopters have been around as models for much longer than mid 2000's. The technology is not new.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadcopter
although about 2010 or so with improved technology of LiPo batteries becoming available to the masses, and RC technology becoming inexpensive, multicopters simply became easy to build and operate.

Phil

EJN · « **Reply #32 on:** May 01, 2015, 03:59:34 PM »

Quote

that publication is as worthless as tits...

So you are saying these are worthless?

Michael Panek · « **Reply #33 on:** May 01, 2015, 04:14:17 PM »

Those can fly over my house, car, boat, me ANYTIME!!

Avaiojet · « **Reply #34 on:** May 01, 2015, 04:27:35 PM »

Quote from: EJN on May 01, 2015, 03:59:34 PM

So you are saying these are worthless?

Hands down, and no pun intended, this is absolutely the best Post I've seen since I signed on.

john gunn · « **Reply #35 on:** May 01, 2015, 04:42:59 PM »

My son makes a living flying those choppers, they are not drones.
Drones carry explosives and kill people. He gave me one, I like my models, more fun to fly. Those things have a purpose, most people do not use then for commercial use, and have no idea what they are for.

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #36 on:** May 01, 2015, 05:01:07 PM »

Quote from: Dennis Toth on May 01, 2015, 11:27:44 AM

Well, before you decide to go all "John Wayne" and bring down an intruder you should remember the a saying an old friend once told me "there are no pretty girls in JAIL".

Best, DennisT

Not to worry...my hunting partner and next door neighbor is a Sheriff's Deputy and he feels the same way I do about drones on our property that I do. He feels the same way about coyotes too....both four legged and two legged.

Intruders are intruders...John Wayne was a hero to be imitated!!

Also you're wrong, there are pretty girls in jail you just can't touch them!

Randy Cuberly

John Kelly · « **Reply #37 on:** May 01, 2015, 05:04:45 PM »

...Hey Mike, You definitely spelled priceless wrong! Cheers, John

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #38 on:** May 01, 2015, 07:25:47 PM »

At my age, I do think my heart can take it...LOL. Maybe we can talk Sparky into interviewing her.

Howard Rush · « **Reply #39 on:** May 03, 2015, 12:38:10 AM »

Another misunderstanding on Stunthangar caused by careless typing. Mike wrote, "With the exception of the occassional Control Line article that publication is as worthless as tits or a boar hog to a Control Line builder and pilot." He clearly meant "tits ON a boar hog", and he was overreliant on his spell checker. I hope this clears this matter up.

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #40 on:** May 03, 2015, 05:50:04 AM »

Get this in before some democrat complains and gets the thread shut down.
Were ready, the one in the middle I built from a Romanian kit.

Greg McCoy · « **Reply #41 on:** May 03, 2015, 06:29:58 AM »

Vandalism "artist" attaches spray-paint can to remote vehicle, for graffiti.

They know who he is, he should be charged.

http://www.wired.com/2015/04/age-drone-vandalism-begins-epic-nyc-tag/

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #42 on:** May 03, 2015, 08:20:28 AM »

Thank you Howard for clearing that up. I need to be more diligent with my proof reading.

Mike

Dennis Moritz · « **Reply #43 on:** May 03, 2015, 08:30:14 AM »

I used a broom to swat a bat that got in the garret room where I lived during college. Three swings and I hit a line drive into the bedroom wall. Very effective. The bat was harder to track than a drone. Zig zag evasive maneuvers fast and furious. Most of those black copter drones look like bats. Way easier to hit. Did you think of arming yourself with a broom?

Howard Rush · « **Reply #44 on:** May 03, 2015, 09:48:22 AM »

Quote from: Mike Griffin on May 03, 2015, 08:20:28 AM

Thank you Howard for clearing that up. I need to be more diligent with my proof reading.

I was sure that you appreciate tits as much as the rest of us.

Andre Ming · « **Reply #45 on:** May 03, 2015, 12:10:16 PM »

Wow, this has been a hooter of a thread.

Avaiojet · « **Reply #46 on:** May 03, 2015, 01:32:31 PM »

Quote from: Andre Ming on May 03, 2015, 12:10:16 PM

Wow, this has been a hooter of a thread.

I look at it like this

Paul Smith · « **Reply #47 on:** May 04, 2015, 07:53:07 PM »

Maybe a paint ball gun would prove the point without subjecting yourself to a long term in prison.

Fredvon4 · « **Reply #48 on:** May 05, 2015, 10:00:40 AM »

Years ago when this "problem" of "DRONES" and first person flight stuff started getting news, I too immediately thought how easy it would be to just shoot them down if over my property.

Then I read and learned more about the subject: There are many legitimate uses and for these craft, And for a lot of us rural folks, the likelihood of seeing a camera bearing quad over or near our property is pretty high. And the notion that it might be some snooping sheriff, police, or voyeur is actually fairly low.

In my area there are several crafty long time RC pilots who have created niche companies to provide close overhead video surveillance and photography; Weddings, lost child searches, lost animal (mostly cattle) searches, power line inspection, property survey (county), property survey (real-estate sales), Fish and wildlife surveys (how many deer and what sex are accumulating in and area etc). I am sure there are other useful ways these craft can make the operator money for providing a service

The obvious potential for Fed and local law enforcement to snoop is a worry for me as I distrust my government these days....that said, I suspect IF the Government was trying to see if I am growing pot they probably would have some worthless (to me) warrant and IF I shot down their surveillance gear I certainty would NOW be subject to more grief than I ever want from the "LAW"

Since we are 60ish and no longer run around the backyard naked, and I do not cook meth or grow pot, I think IF I ever noticed one hovering overhead, I might just be curious what it is doing and then go back about my life of enjoying my wife, children, grandchildren, pets, friends, and hobbies.

eric david conley · « **Reply #49 on:** May 05, 2015, 11:12:25 AM »

Well that was a breath of fresh air Fred, thank you.

Author Topic: The right to shoot at a drone flying over your property. (Read 5921 times)

ChrisSarnowski

Mike Griffin

Mike Griffin

Mike Griffin