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I'll bet the same people who say that shooting down a drone lands you in Federal court also believes that damaging mailboxes lands you in Federal court.
The local police are not the one that charges you with a crime for shooting down a drone. It is the Feds, as it is a federal crime you have committed. You are tried in federal court with the Crime, enforced by the FAA.
You will be charged for discharging a gun within the city limits in most cities. You will have committed two crimes with 2 different authorities giving you separate charges for criminal acts.
Look at your headlines. Tragic events, for sure, but neither incident involved a drone. One was a large model helicopter, the other an aerobatic aircraft model. Neither one of these aircraft was one of the small drones available to the public. FAA and AMA safety rules prohibit "flying over your kids' heads" Unfortunately "Billy" cannot be forbidden to buy a drone. He can find his actions with it regulated by US, State, and Local laws.
The Academy of Model Aeronautics is the governing body for remote piloted and other hobby flying in the USA. They require members to carry insurance, fly in a safe manner, and essentially always fly from an established field where the crowd can be safe and the environs controlled.
Drones are a concern because they have four or more motors with sharp blades, they have electronic stabilization systems which makes the sport accessible to almost anyone, and they are available at retail to the general public.
What was originally an expensive hobby enjoyed by a few skilled pilots for education and recreation has become a widespread phenomenon and does certainly present a danger to the public when misused.
"Sort of like guns and cars and computers" https://www.modelaircraft.org/
Look at your headlines. Tragic events, for sure, but neither incident involved a drone. One was a large model helicopter, the other an aerobatic aircraft model. Neither one of these aircraft was one of the small drones available to the public. FAA and AMA safety rules prohibit "flying over your kids' heads" Unfortunately "Billy" cannot be forbidden to buy a drone. He can find his actions with it regulated by US, State, and Local laws.
The Academy of Model Aeronautics is the governing body for remote piloted and other hobby flying in the USA. They require members to carry insurance, fly in a safe manner, and essentially always fly from an established field where the crowd can be safe and the environs controlled.
Drones are a concern because they have four or more motors with sharp blades, they have electronic stabilization systems which makes the sport accessible to almost anyone, and they are available at retail to the general public.
Are you willing to find out if Billy's drone can hurt your kids?
According to my research yesterday, I learned that a court in Washington DC found FAA rules to register hobby drones illegal. It cost like $ 3 dollars to register before. Now, you don't have to register. Not sure if AMA can obligate drone hobbists to register and insure.
Sure, Billy can enjoy his hobby, but at the designated places or his own property. But not over my backyard, which gets lots of traffic, parties, gatherings, whatever.
Picture this -- we have people over, out on the patio, grilling, chilling. Here comes Billy's drone buzzing around. I yell "Run, let's go. Seek shelter. Billy needs to enjoy his hobby?"
Even if there is registration in place, annual inspections, licensing of operators etc etc. FAA still prohibits flying these drones over groups of people.
Like I said, it is insane to expect that I jeopardize my kids so that Billy can enjoy his hobby on my backyard. So, I will shoot it down, seven times over.
OK - I thought this was an amusing joke, but Henry does not see the humor in it and said so in a private message.
I guess we'll NOT be lightening the mood with him.
Do not send cash for the "drones for drone-haters" good-will project. - it's been cancelled!
Lol. So if I say no to chocolate over my steak, that makes me a chocolate-hater now?
Here is a tip on making jokes -- if you can't think straight, don't make them.
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