Drone shot at today!

[Tristar500]

Nowhere did I say it was legal for a citizen to shoot down a drone. I get it, you are mad and you are angry.
But there are not people on board your drone and I'm not a lawyer so I can't tell you what that legally means when it comes to the intent of the federal code on shooting at aircraft. I can only tell you what I have heard and so far, I haven't mentioned what I have heard, not yet, because you won't like it even though you may have already heard it yourself.

Yeah I have a question, people get put in jail all the time for using a laser pointer on an aircraft and not a single plane has been brought down with a laser. However, not a single person has gone to jail for shooting at a drone and dozens if not hundreds of drones have been brought down using gunfire. Do you not see the irony of the federal code you posted?

Just set your expectations is all I am saying. And btw, the /s is switch denoting mild sarcasm.

Actually, I'm really not that mad or angry about having the drone take fire. I retrieved it and replaced the propeller. What really bothers me is the reckless actions this person took to both shoot at an aircraft and the fact that he had no regard for any harm those bullets could do down range, which is in a lightly populated area, but there are people and vehicles potentially in the line of fire. People DO get killed from stray gunfire.

 

[Tristar500]

I found this on the homeowner's Instagram page,
Maybe now some of you will understand my concerns when these types of weapons are being discharged in close proximity to a dwelling by people with questionable judgment.

 

[Cafguy]

Any person that would fire a weapon into the air without regard for others has no business with a weapon! (CLOWNS)
P.S. If he fired into the air next to his home...and there were others in his home then thats enough....

 

[Vic Moss]

So sheriff deputies came today and dismissed the whole thing. Blamed me for being near the person's property. Said he was just protecting his home. WTF?
Protecting it from what? When I asked them about the stray bullets that landed who knows where, they said they didn't care.
Hopefully, the FAA/FBI will take a different position. One of the sheriff's deputies said she was also a part 107 pilot. Again, WTF!

That sucks!

 

[Droning on and on...]

I've interacted with plenty of L.E. types over the past 35-40 years for various things that did not involve criminal activity on my part, so my conscience is clear when I make that statement and pointing that out helps explain their lack of interest in helping out the O.P.

It is, of course, your choice to be rude and insulting to an entire class of people. We have members of the forum that are Sherriffs Deputies. Seems rather uncivil to engage in such casual bigotry in a community that values polite behavior.

 

[Chip]

I found this on the homeowner's Instagram page,
Maybe now some of you will understand my concerns when these types of weapons are being discharged in close proximity to a dwelling by people with questionable judgment.

Yes I sure do.

 

[Droning on and on...]

I found this on the homeowner's Instagram page,
Maybe now some of you will understand my concerns when these types of weapons are being discharged in close proximity to a dwelling by people with questionable judgment.

There are plenty of reasons to question the shooter's judgement from your actual experience.

This picture is not one of them.

 

[BlueHeeler]

IMHO, just as there are irresponsible drone owners, there are irresponsible firearms owners as well, the shooter in the original post has shown total disregard of basic rules of safety in firearms ownership, but what beats the hell out of me is the Sheriff's response to this situation, he would certainly change his tune if someone in the area were hit.

 

[Tristar500]

IMHO, just as there are irresponsible drone owners, there are irresponsible firearms owners as well, the shooter in the original post has shown total disregard of basic rules of safety in firearms ownership, but what beats the hell out of me is the Sheriff's response to this situation, he would certainly change his tune if someone in the area were hit.

Sadly, it takes somebody getting seriously injured or killed before action is taken.

 

[mavic3usa]

Actually, I'm really not that mad or angry about having the drone take fire. I retrieved it and replaced the propeller. What really bothers me is the reckless actions this person took to both shoot at an aircraft and the fact that he had no regard for any harm those bullets could do down range, which is in a lightly populated area, but there are people and vehicles potentially in the line of fire. People DO get killed from stray gunfire.

Someone mentioned making you whole which is always a possibility even it law enforcement doesn't cooperate. You can initiate a civil lawsuit or go to small claims court and seek damages to make you whole. It doesn't speak to the criminal (charges) aspect but at least you could get paid, maybe even punitive damages depending on your state.

 

[mavic3usa]

Sadly, it takes somebody getting seriously injured or killed before action is taken.

Yeah I think that was my point. If no one is hurt or there is no property damage, even if "action" is taken there's never going to be any meaningful punishment. In this country, we have a really hard time with sanctioning someone for actions that "could have" gone badly unless those actions are culpable...or reckless. If there is a shooting range nearby, there are already thousands of rounds falling on everything for a two miles radius every year. As you know, all rounds are the same, there are no deliberate vs unintentional rounds when it comes to stray rounds or falling from the sky. I get there is a difference between his property and the shooting range..... That's not an excuse for shooting up into the air but it just goes to the mentality. I don't support crime or criminals and I'm not saying the shooting was right because he was wrong.

 

[agiorgitis]

USA is the free land were you can sue anyone for anything. No, don't go and have a chat with the guy who shot your drone... sue him for 500k in damages instead

 

[Tristar500]

Someone mentioned making you whole which is always a possibility even it law enforcement doesn't cooperate. You can initiate a civil lawsuit or go to small claims court and seek damages to make you whole. It doesn't speak to the criminal (charges) aspect but at least you could get paid, maybe even punitive damages depending on your state.

Really not worth it for a $5 propeller. I replaced it, and all seems well after a test flight. Had the drone been destroyed, I'd definitely go after them in court.
Best to wait and see what the FAA and the FBI decide to do.

 

[AMann]

I found this on the homeowner's Instagram page,
Maybe now some of you will understand my concerns when these types of weapons are being discharged in close proximity to a dwelling by people with questionable judgment.

Uh, I wouldn’t mess with those, I’d rather go hit a wasp nest with a stick!