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| -Land of the Free |
| Drone Zapping for Fun and Proffit |
| 2013-07-20 |
| I never thought it would happen this quickly, but one town in my home state is looking to fire the first shot in the war against the drones. Look out Sky-net, here we come! Actually, it's a little more political than the old "Terminator"-style man vs. machines scenario. The town of Deer Trail, Colo., is looking to begin offering "drone hunting licenses" and actually paying rewards to anyone who presents proof that they were able to bring down an unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to the United States federal government, according to reporting by Denver TV station KMGH. Better than skeet shooting. Besides, those skeet taste really bad. Phillip Steel, the man who drafted the ordinance, as well as other supporters, say it will provide a new source of revenue for the town, but Steel concedes that it's not exactly like Deer Trail has a drone problem. In fact, he's never seen one over the town. It's like saying your Chihuahua is a good bear dog because you don't have any bears in your yard. "This is a very symbolic ordinance," he told KMGH. "Basically, I do not believe in the idea of a surveillance society, and I believe we are heading that way." You ever read "Man and his Symbols" by Carl Gustav Jung? While Steel seems to be dead serious about taking up arms against his own government, others in the tiny town see his novel move as a tongue-in-cheek way to drum up a little publicity and maybe some tourism and perhaps even a drone-hunting festival of some sort. Sounds reasonable to me. It's not my government, I didn't vote for those bugwits. That little bump of revenue could be nice, but I have to wonder if it will offset the various federal monies the town could stand to lose if Washington, D.C., gets wind of a place that's put out a bounty on federal property. Drone zapping for sport and proffit. |
| Posted by:Deacon Blues |
| #11 And before the banjos start playing and see country folk scrambling from black helicopters, I mean the criminals involved in growing/manufacturing drugs. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2013-07-20 21:12 |
| #10 I can see a law protecting drones flying over companies' own property, such as railroads, pipelines, etc., and I can see a law protecting drones over - and within x hundred feet/yards/whatever - of military bases, the border, etc. But if a drone is flying over MY property and that property isn't within the boundaries listed above, it's invasion of MY privacy and MY castle and I should have a perfect right to blast it out of the sky. In fact, I'd be willing to buy a shotgun just for the occasion. |
| Posted by: Barbara 2013-07-20 21:07 |
| #9 Scratch that - I could see how a pipeline or electrical or railroad service would rather use drones than helicopters. Thought of that when I remembered that some pipeline companies like to give plenty of advance warning when inspecting by helicopter - they were tired of getting shot at, and I think it wasn't Uncle Joe setting down his beer and making two shotgun blasts into the air. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2013-07-20 19:38 |
| #8 Should have just said any drones, only the government has any legit arguement. You have a good point James. If it is a drone from ELF, I would use my Atari 2600 as the base, some sort of Missile Command theme. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2013-07-20 19:14 |
| #7 This needs to be done with a little more care. First, we need it to be understood that the launcher (or if hijacked, the controller) of a drone is responsible for all damages from any mishaps whatever. That probably requires a law. Second, we need it to be understood that drones have their place: at the borders, around military bases or nuke plants, in hobby plane zones, and so on. Drones are protected there, as well as in the approaches to an airport. Then you're ready to open season on drones. I'm trying to imagine the taxidermy. |
| Posted by: James 2013-07-20 18:25 |
| #6 I think the FAA or somebody just announced that it is illegal to shoot the things down. No link, sorry. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2013-07-20 17:17 |
| #5 And overnight going at least 50 years beyond the paleos. And thats just the 4-H and FFA youngsters. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2013-07-20 16:54 |
| #4 While Shipman and Frank go all old skool, the kids are out in the barn fitting their quadcopter for air-to-air combat and writing guidance code for the optical seekers on the Estes rockets. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2013-07-20 14:21 |
| #3 I can hear it now, "Here hold my beer". |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2013-07-20 13:48 |
| #2 drink up! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2013-07-20 13:02 |
| #1 Roll the F-150 and unmask the Bofors! |
| Posted by: Shipman 2013-07-20 04:03 |