# Kentucky Man Shoots Drone, Gets Arrested **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 31, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634 "2015-07-31T06:38:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/361 "2015-09-07T21:03:30Z")
[Another drone brought down](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_zw8h4epQM), but this time the video was not “mysteriously lost”. It clearly shows the droneslayer taking out the drone. No word on if he was arrested yet. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/362 "2015-09-10T03:26:04Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > [Another drone brought down](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_zw8h4epQM), but this time the video was not “mysteriously lost”. It clearly shows the droneslayer taking out the drone. > > No word on if he was arrested yet. So most of that video is public domain, right? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/363 "2015-09-10T03:29:55Z")
Human see, monkey do. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/364 "2015-10-30T01:32:50Z")
> **[Opinion | “He had a right to shoot at this drone, and I’m going to dismiss...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/10/28/he-had-a-right-to-shoot-at-this-drone-and-im-gonna-dismiss-this-charge/)** > > So rules a Kentucky trial court judge. Charges dismissed ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/365 "2015-10-30T17:55:30Z")
Judge determined that the drone was invading the Kentucky man’s privacy and was within his right to shoot it down. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/366 "2015-10-30T18:01:22Z")
I’ll remember that ruling if I ever see a Google Streetview car on my street. Blammo! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/367 "2015-10-30T18:35:34Z")
The judge in question [may not be the most even handed](http://courts.ky.gov/commissionscommittees/JCC/Documents/Public_Information/Ward.pdf) when it comes to criminal cases. ---
**Author:** ![V\_Morales](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e9c0ed/32.png) [@V\_Morales](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/V_Morales)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/368 "2019-04-18T13:15:51Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > The 6/18/2014 FAA [Interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft](http://www.faa.gov/uas/media/model_aircraft_spec_rule.pdf). > > Note the conundrum, as noted on page 6, regarding Section 336 restricting the ability of the FAA to promulgate new rules. Also note their distinctions between commercial and recreational use on pages 9 through 11. Checking in on a friend’s house, like taking photographs for personal use and viewing a field to determine whether crops need water when they are grown for personal enjoyment, are recreational activities. Taking pictures of a house to advertise it for sale is commercial. > > That said it does seem that a FAA extant rule on not within 500 feet of a dwelling may apply … this they state, may “enforcement action when conducted unsafely.” > > So it may be that the FAA has cause to come down on the operator and definitely has cause to come down on the shooter … shooting at aircraft is not something the FAA generally looks the other way at. > > Will they make a … Federal case … about it? They could and probably should in both instances. > > And yes I have little doubt that a Federal court would find the shooter guilty. And the FAA has [previously](http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_23693787/faa-warns-public-against-shooting-guns-at-drones) stated they will take on these cases: > > This seems like a perfect case for them, both reinforcing that shooting at drones will not be tolerated and, without directly weighing in on privacy reinforcing the 500 feet from dwellings guideline. The operators get fined and the shooter gets a short sentence in the Fed Pen. Hey! Not sure if anyone is still reading this (I am), but the link to the FAA file does not work anymore. I found a working link, here it is: [Interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft](https://www.templateroller.com/template/1863170/14-cfr-part-91-docket-no-faa-2014-0396-interpretation-the-special-rule-model-aircraft.html) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/369 "2019-04-21T08:48:21Z")
> [@XT](#): > > As for the guys who lost their $1800.00 drone…fuck em. No sympathy from me on that score. And when they tried to confront this guy on his own property and got hauled up short because he was armed…again, fuck them. They should be fined as well for flying their drone over other peoples houses without permission, but I think the sting of losing their expensive drone and being humiliated when they tried to make something of it and were pulled up short ought to balance the scales a bit. So I can shoot airplanes AND they should be fined if they fly over my house without my permission? Good to know. Fuck 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/370 "2019-04-21T16:49:39Z")
One of these fuckers was hovering right out my back door a while back. I was heading for the 12 gauge when it finally took off. It did get the finger. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/371 "2019-04-21T19:07:04Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Right…he’s not being charged for shooting down the drone, but for shooting his shot gun into the air. I’m not sure what sort of neighborhood they are in, but if his neighbors are close enough for him to have seen the drone peeping in his neighbors window as he claimed I’m guessing it’s a residential neighborhood, so shooting a shotgun would definitely be a no-no. I’ve seen one of my own neighbors hauled away by the police for firing a shotgun at a coyote in the neighborhood…and I cheered when they did (they let him off with a fine in the end) because it was freaking stupid and dangerous, unlike the coyote which was small, scrawny and simply scrounging for snacks and could have been chased off with a stick. > … And quite properly. Now, generally discharging a firearm with a blank\* is not a crime (YMMV, IANAL) so i wonder if he had shot one of those specialized web/net drone dropper shotgun rounds what would have happened. - that almost spellchecked to “black” which would have been rather different. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/372 "2019-04-21T19:11:14Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Next time I hear about how nice Americans are, I’ll think about this guy and how he threatened to murder people if they stepped over a sidewalk. Stay classy, dude. As said before " “the drone owner and his friends aggressively confronted the home owner” So four angry guys come up your walk, yelling and gesticulating. You’re not in any danger? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/373 "2019-04-21T19:13:57Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > WTF is wrong with all you people completely okay with this guy destroying another person’s property? Just because he doesn’t like what he’s doing with it doesn’t mean that he gets to destroy it. If I were to drive my car onto his property, he doesn’t get to come out with a bat and start beating the shit out of the car. The correct response is to contact authorities and let them handle it, not to go Rambo. Well, I agree that shooting a _gun_ at it was wrong and criminal. But lets say you find a guy outside your daughters window, filming her getting dressed. I think smashing his camera is hardly a crazy response. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/374 "2019-04-21T19:21:27Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > “Stepping on the other side of the sidewalk” isn’t a life-threatening act of aggression. One has to be insane to think one’s life is in danger because someone else’s feet have moved beyond a sidewalk onto a lawn. At what point should he draw the line then? A. at his legal property line? B. Ten feet in? C. When they get within fist range (too late)? D. After he wakes up in the hospital being beaten half to death by four angry men? E. When he \*doesnt \*wake up in the hospital, being beaten to death by four angry men? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/375 "2019-04-21T19:26:18Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > … > In my case, yes, I have dealt with angry people. One time while I was driving in heavy city traffic, I changed lanes. While traffic was stopped, the guy who was then behind me got out of his car, walked up to me, and accused me of cutting him off. He also raised his voice and made frantic gesticulations. I was going to blow his head off, but I wasn’t armed. Amazing how we both lived to tell this tale. One time while a guy was minding his own business he shot (which is a crime) a drone that trespassed. The owner and three friends came over raised his voice and made frantic gesticulations. He was going to blow their heads off if they came closer, andhe \* was\* armed. Amazing how everyone lived to tell this tale. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/376 "2019-04-21T19:33:56Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I would gladly answer the question, I’m just not sure what it means. I smash into someone else’s car angering them. This guy shot down a drone angering others. In each case, one person does something to anger someone else, and same person gets to threaten to kill the other on the basis that the other is angry? > > This is what I’m asking. If angry people approach me, am I justified in your mind shouting, “One step closer and I wil kill you!” principally on the basis that they are angry? > > I just veered into their car - let’s say it was intentionally. They are pissed. I can threaten to kill them if they step any closer? > **[Police: Man beaten 30 times in Cheektowaga road rage incident](https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/police-man-beaten-30-times-in-cheektowaga-road-rage-incident)** > > A Cheektowaga man is in the hospital tonight following a road rage incident that left him needing surgery. > **[Woman says she was dragged from car, beaten in road rage incident](https://www.wcvb.com/article/woman-says-she-was-dragged-from-car-beaten-in-road-rage-incident/22630926)** > > The 36-year-old mother of two, who has multiple sclerosis, said she was dragged from the passenger seat of her friend’s car and beaten in an apparent road rage incident. https://abc13.com/man-beaten-in-apparent-road-rage-incident/5166314/ > **[Woman dragged out of car, suffers broken arm in Brockton road rage incident](https://www.boston25news.com/news/massachusetts/woman-dragged-out-of-car-suffers-broken-arm-in-brockton-road-rage-incident/804913734/)** > > A mother from Taunton says she was viciously attacked after she was dragged out of her car during a road rage incident in Brockton. > **[Police: Man dragged out of car, beaten in road rage attack](https://www.foxnews.com/us/police-man-dragged-out-of-car-beaten-in-road-rage-attack)** > > Police in Connecticut say a man was dragged out of his car and beaten in an apparent case of road rage. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/377 "2019-04-21T20:40:07Z")
Good for the guy who shot it… Drones are now becoming a more efficient way to kill innocent people, without the guilt for those without a conscience. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/378 "2019-04-21T20:50:02Z")
**DrDeth** - I don’t really have the energy to argue against the violence fetishism that the homeowner evinced, based purely on the fact this incident is so old I no longer care to debate it. I only jumped in to say this out of concern that you’d quote several more of my posts, so I thought I’d do you the courtesy to state plainly that you shouldn’t bother. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/379 "2019-04-21T21:56:12Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > **DrDeth** - I don’t really have the energy to argue against the violence fetishism that the homeowner evinced, based purely on the fact this incident is so old I no longer care to debate it. > > I only jumped in to say this out of concern that you’d quote several more of my posts, so I thought I’d do you the courtesy to state plainly that you shouldn’t bother. Well then I won’t. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/380 "2019-04-22T10:51:58Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > Good for the guy who shot it… Drones are now becoming a more efficient way to kill innocent people, without the guilt for those without a conscience. Yeah, you realize this was some dude in Kentucky, not the US military in the Middle East, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634.md?page=20)