FAA warns Colorado town that shooting down drones could lead to prosecution
by Tom Sullivan
Wakeupfromyourslumber.com
Sat, 2013-07-20
On the heels of a Colorado town’s announcement that it was floating the idea of legalized drone hunting, the Federal Aviation Administration has warned that the practice could result in prosecution and fines.
The small town of Deer Trail, Colorado is currently weighing an ordinance that would grant residents permits to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, and even encourage the practice by awarding a $100 bounty to anyone presenting identifiable pieces of a drone that has been shot out of the sky.
Deer Trail resident Phillip Steel, who introduced the ordinance for debate – while admitting the move would be largely symbolic – voiced distrust towards the quickly proliferating technology already shared by many others, in particular privacy advocates who recoil at the thought of flying cameras hovering over American communities.
“Basically, I do not believe in the idea of a surveillance society, and I believe we are heading that way,” says Steel.
“We do not want drones in town. They fly in town, they get shot down,” he added.
In response, the FAA has released a statement that seeks to answer many of the questions raised by such a city ordinance, whether symbolic or otherwise.