Can You Shoot Down a Drone?

[Sedalia Dave]

https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/can-you-shoot-down-a-drone/

[Texas Joker]

Fly a kite badly

[Cypress Sun]

 

Of course you can shoot down a drone.

Hope you have a very plush financial portfolio, cause you're gonna need it.

[Rye Miles #13621]

NO

[Texas Maverick]

Interesting article and it is illegal to shoot down a drone with a firearm. But I have never seen anything about knocking one down with a water hose or something else besides a firearm. I know of someone that did use a garden hose successfully to knock one down. He then took it to his neighbor and left it on their front door step. To my knowledge nothing ever came of it.

 

TM

Edited November 1 by Texas Maverick

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

Interestingly enough, there was a real estate photographer's drone "supposedly" shot down in my neighborhood (rural) recently. So far, nothing has come of it.

[Subdeacon Joe]

I really dislike that almost all drones are considered "aircraft."  

What you could do is report to the FAA an unregistered drone:

Do I need to register my drone and if so, how do I register?

Federal law requires all drones operated under 14 CFR Part 107 to be registered.  The limited statutory exception for recreation requires registration of all aircraft weighing more than .55 pound (250 grams).  All registered aircraft must have their registration number displayed on the exterior. Review the UAS registration information to learn more about the program.

Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.

 

 

 

[Subdeacon Joe]

5 minutes ago, Texas Maverick said:

Interesting article and it is illegal to shoot down a drone with a firearm. But I have never seen anything about knocking one down with a water hose or something else besides a firearm. I know of someone that did use a garden hose successfully to knock one down. He then took it to his neighbor and left it on their front door step. To my knowledge nothing ever came of it.

 

TM

 

That's still an attack on an aircraft.  https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/32
 

18 U.S. Code § 32 - Destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities

• U.S. Code
• Notes

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(a)Whoever willfully—

(1)

sets fire to, damages, destroys, disables, or wrecks any aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States or any civil aircraft used, operated, or employed in interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce;

(2)

places or causes to be placed a destructive device or substance in, upon, or in proximity to, or otherwise makes or causes to be made unworkable or unusable or hazardous to work or use, any such aircraft, or any part or other materials used or intended to be used in connection with the operation of such aircraft, if such placing or causing to be placed or such making or causing to be made is likely to endanger the safety of any such aircraft;

(3)

sets fire to, damages, destroys, or disables any air navigation facility, or interferes by force or violence with the operation of such facility, if such fire, damaging, destroying, disabling, or interfering is likely to endanger the safety of any such aircraft in flight;

(4)

with the intent to damage, destroy, or disable any such aircraft, sets fire to, damages, destroys, or disables or places a destructive device or substance in, upon, or in proximity to, any appliance or structure, ramp, landing area, property, machine, or apparatus, or any facility or other material used, or intended to be used, in connection with the operation, maintenance, loading, unloading or storage of any such aircraft or any cargo carried or intended to be carried on any such aircraft;

(5)

interferes with or disables, with intent to endanger the safety of any person or with a reckless disregard for the safety of human life, anyone engaged in the authorized operation of such aircraft or any air navigation facility aiding in the navigation of any such aircraft;

(6)

performs an act of violence against or incapacitates any individual on any such aircraft, if such act of violence or incapacitation is likely to endanger the safety of such aircraft;

(7)

communicates information, knowing the information to be false and under circumstances in which such information may reasonably be believed, thereby endangering the safety of any such aircraft in flight; or

(8)

attempts or conspires to do anything prohibited under paragraphs (1) through (7) of this subsection;

shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years or both.

(b)Whoever willfully—

(1)

performs an act of violence against any individual on board any civil aircraft registered in a country other than the United States while such aircraft is in flight, if such act is likely to endanger the safety of that aircraft;

(2)

destroys a civil aircraft registered in a country other than the United States while such aircraft is in service or causes damage to such an aircraft which renders that aircraft incapable of flight or which is likely to endanger that aircraft’s safety in flight;

(3)

places or causes to be placed on a civil aircraft registered in a country other than the United States while such aircraft is in service, a device or substance which is likely to destroy that aircraft, or to cause damage to that aircraft which renders that aircraft incapable of flight or which is likely to endanger that aircraft’s safety in flight; or

(4)

attempts or conspires to commit an offense described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection;

shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. There is jurisdiction over an offense under this subsection if a national of the United States was on board, or would have been on board, the aircraft; an offender is a national of the United States; or an offender is afterwards found in the United States. For purposes of this subsection, the term “national of the United States” has the meaning prescribed in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

(c)

Whoever willfully imparts or conveys any threat to do an act which would violate any of paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (a) or any of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (b) of this section, with an apparent determination and will to carry the threat into execution shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(Added July 14, 1956, ch. 595, § 1, 70 Stat. 539; amended Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 2013(b), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2187; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7016, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4395; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(O), (S), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148; Pub. L. 104–132, title VII, §§ 721(b), 723(a)(1), A

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

I’d shoot one down.

Then make them prove I shot it down. 
I’d be as discreet and inconspicuous as possible and make no attempt to retrieve it. Let it fall where it may, then if they come onto my property to retrieve it, confront them for trespassing and call sheriff out. Let them explain themselves, what they are up to, as I know nothing and have nothing to say other than these folks are trespassing and I want to know what they are up to, and to what purposes were they flying a drone and filming my property.

As to who shot it down. I don’t know. Plead the 5th and it’s up to them to prove it was me that shot it down, not up to me to prove my innocence 

Edited November 2 by Dirty Dan Dawkins

[Cypress Sun]

2 minutes ago, Dirty Dan Dawkins said:

Comment deleted.

 

Yeah, that might work....except for....ya know...the good ole internet.

[Texas Maverick]

3 minutes ago, Cypress Sun said:

 

Yeah, that might work....except for....ya know...the good ole internet.

or the camera on the drone capturing it on its own video. LOL

 

TM

[Texas Maverick]

10 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

That's still an attack on an aircraft.  https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/32
 

18 U.S. Code § 32 - Destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities

• U.S. Code
• Notes

prev | next

(a)Whoever willfully—

(1)

sets fire to, damages, destroys, disables, or wrecks any aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States or any civil aircraft used, operated, or employed in interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce;

(2)

places or causes to be placed a destructive device or substance in, upon, or in proximity to, or otherwise makes or causes to be made unworkable or unusable or hazardous to work or use, any such aircraft, or any part or other materials used or intended to be used in connection with the operation of such aircraft, if such placing or causing to be placed or such making or causing to be made is likely to endanger the safety of any such aircraft;

(3)

sets fire to, damages, destroys, or disables any air navigation facility, or interferes by force or violence with the operation of such facility, if such fire, damaging, destroying, disabling, or interfering is likely to endanger the safety of any such aircraft in flight;

(4)

with the intent to damage, destroy, or disable any such aircraft, sets fire to, damages, destroys, or disables or places a destructive device or substance in, upon, or in proximity to, any appliance or structure, ramp, landing area, property, machine, or apparatus, or any facility or other material used, or intended to be used, in connection with the operation, maintenance, loading, unloading or storage of any such aircraft or any cargo carried or intended to be carried on any such aircraft;

(5)

interferes with or disables, with intent to endanger the safety of any person or with a reckless disregard for the safety of human life, anyone engaged in the authorized operation of such aircraft or any air navigation facility aiding in the navigation of any such aircraft;

(6)

performs an act of violence against or incapacitates any individual on any such aircraft, if such act of violence or incapacitation is likely to endanger the safety of such aircraft;

(7)

communicates information, knowing the information to be false and under circumstances in which such information may reasonably be believed, thereby endangering the safety of any such aircraft in flight; or

(8)

attempts or conspires to do anything prohibited under paragraphs (1) through (7) of this subsection;

shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years or both.

(b)Whoever willfully—

(1)

performs an act of violence against any individual on board any civil aircraft registered in a country other than the United States while such aircraft is in flight, if such act is likely to endanger the safety of that aircraft;

(2)

destroys a civil aircraft registered in a country other than the United States while such aircraft is in service or causes damage to such an aircraft which renders that aircraft incapable of flight or which is likely to endanger that aircraft’s safety in flight;

(3)

places or causes to be placed on a civil aircraft registered in a country other than the United States while such aircraft is in service, a device or substance which is likely to destroy that aircraft, or to cause damage to that aircraft which renders that aircraft incapable of flight or which is likely to endanger that aircraft’s safety in flight; or

(4)

attempts or conspires to commit an offense described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection;

shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. There is jurisdiction over an offense under this subsection if a national of the United States was on board, or would have been on board, the aircraft; an offender is a national of the United States; or an offender is afterwards found in the United States. For purposes of this subsection, the term “national of the United States” has the meaning prescribed in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

(c)

Whoever willfully imparts or conveys any threat to do an act which would violate any of paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (a) or any of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (b) of this section, with an apparent determination and will to carry the threat into execution shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(Added July 14, 1956, ch. 595, § 1, 70 Stat. 539; amended Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 2013(b), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2187; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7016, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4395; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(O), (S), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148; Pub. L. 104–132, title VII, §§ 721(b), 723(a)(1), A

This was back when the drones first hit the market. Were they deemed aircraft at the beginning or only after they were out for awhile? I don't remember.

 

TM

[Texas Lizard]

If we cannot shoot them...Maybe we need hawk drones.....Capture in the air and take them down...

 

Texas Lizard

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

Can I send my falcon after it?

[Texas Lizard]

12 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said:

Can I send my falcon after it?

I think I remember something on that...Hawks being trained to do just that...Can not remember where I saw it at....

 

Texas Lizard

[Eyesa Horg]

18 hours ago, Dirty Dan Dawkins said:

I’d shoot one down.

Then make them prove I shot it down. 
I’d be as discreet and imconspiy as possible and make no attempt to retrieve it. Let it fall where it may, then if they come onto my property to retrieve it, confront them for trespassing and call sheriff out. Let them explain themselves, what they are up to, as I know nothing and have nothing to say other than these folks are trespassing and I want to know what they are up to, and to what purposes were they flying a drone and filming my property.

As to who shot it down. I don’t know. Plead the 5th and it’s up to them to prove it was me that shot it down, not up to me to prove my innocence 

So long as they don't film you shooting it down. Be vewy discrete! 

Edited November 2 by Eyesa Horg
Typo

[sassnetguy50]

Eagles have been successfully trained to take down drones for defense forces.  No, it is not legal for you to affect a drone in any way as it is still an attack on aircraft. 

 

The best way is a drone gun, something like this. https://www.droneshield.com/c-uas-products/dronegun-mk4

You could cloak yourself so they only know the drone was disabled but not by who.

[Eyesa Horg]

A much lesser expensive drone could "accidentally" crash into the privacy breaker.

[bgavin]

If the drone camera also contains video of that drone peeking in your daughter's bedroom window, the owner might be reluctant to call the cops because you shot it down.

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

20 years and $100,000.00 fine?

 

I can shoot a man on the town hall steps in front of  a score of witnesses and not get that severe a punishment.

 

How about anti-aircraft balloons like were used in WWII.....and maybe WWI as well.  Tell them you were celebrating something.  With all the stupid holidays we have these days we should be able to find something.

 

Send them up with tinfoil and ribbon streamers, sparkly stuff, mylar mirrors, little flags, Chinese whirly-gigs like we made out of construction paper.  Simply confuse the bejabbers out or their cameras, signals, and anything else.  Magnets might be fun, too. 

[Oak Ridge Regulator]

I guess I look at it this way. I pay many many many thousands of dollars a year in property taxes on my PRIVATE home and land. The biggest gun I could hit a drone with would be my benellie SBE 2 with 3 1/2” goose rounds. If it’s close enough for me to drop it with that gun then some a**hole is invading my privacy and good luck finding that drone ! We’re giving up way to much privacy and personal freedom to the media and media wannabes theses days, law or no law

[Rye Miles #13621]

6 minutes ago, Oak Ridge Regulator said:

I guess I look at it this way. I pay many many many thousands of dollars a year in property taxes on my PRIVATE home and land. The biggest gun I could hit a drone with would be my benellie SBE 2 with 3 1/2” goose rounds. If it’s close enough for me to drop it with that gun then some a**hole is invading my privacy and good luck finding that drone ! We’re giving up way to much privacy and personal freedom to the media and media wannabes theses days, law or no law

Good luck, hope you have a good attorney!

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

A drone flying over your property is not trespassing. Pretty much as simple as that.

 

You might have a different argument if it came right down to your patio or windows......don't know.

[Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme]

You can in VA, if you're protecting Robert Duvall.

[Eyesa Horg]

10 minutes ago, Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme said:

You can in VA, if you're protecting Robert Duvall.

There, how do you like me now?

[Alpo]

28 minutes ago, Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme said:

You can in VA, if you're protecting Robert Duvall.

I'm impressed. She loaded that 410 shotgun with 20 gauge shells.

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

9 hours ago, Texas Lizard said:

If we cannot shoot them...Maybe we need hawk drones.....Capture in the air and take them down...

 

Texas Lizard

Time to take up falconry

2 hours ago, Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 said:

A drone flying over your property is not trespassing. Pretty much as simple as that.

 

You might have a different argument if it came right down to your patio or windows......don't know.

I’d still shoot it

[Mossy Horn Gent]

I imagine if you break it you bought it.

[Pat Riot]

In 2017 I had a neighbor that was flying his drone into my yard and I am pretty sure the cameras were looking into my home. 
The first time I walked out back and the drone flew off. 
The next evening the drone showed up. I aimed my Mossberg 500 at it while standing in my living room and it flew off. So it was looking into my house. 
The next day I was talking with a neighbor and he told me who owned the drone. 
I went to the guys door and knocked. When he answered I told him that if I saw his drone looking into my home again I would shoot it down and then I would take the drone to the police station and file a complaint about him being a pervert. 
He never flew his drone around the neighborhood after that. 
 

There was a website that you could list your property as “Off Limits” to drones. It would only work for drones and controllers with GPS, but I am pretty sure the supposed 500 feet of air space that WAS your property is no longer your property according to the FAA. 

[Pat Riot]

Also, let me add, if you invade my space with a drone I am going to invade your drone with some space, if you get my drift. 

[sassnetguy50]

I'm not familiar with a 500 feet airspace rule.  As an unregistered drone, the ceiling is 400 feet. 

[irish ike, SASS #43615]

On 11/1/2024 at 8:46 AM, Dirty Dan Dawkins said:

As to who shot it down.

Logic would say if its on your property and you don't have neighbors close by you would be it.

15 hours ago, Pat Riot said:

air space that WAS your property is no longer your property according to the FAA. 

According to the FAA and the courts the air space above your property is not yours. The 400' law is the limitation on how high you can fly a drone.

Here shooting any type of projectile in a congested area will get you a big fine and jail time. 

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

16 hours ago, Mossy Horn Gent said:

I imagine if you break it you bought it.

Wouldn't know what happened.

[Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme]

18 hours ago, Alpo said:

I'm impressed. She loaded that 410 shotgun with 20 gauge shells.

You were not paying attention to the fact she was cleaning "shotguns" on her porch. She already had the .410 clean, and so she used her 20g. Here in VA it's not unusual for a woman to have multiple gauges in her posession at once .410, 16, 12, 28, 20, 10.........and if she's hefty, maybe an 8......

We like to protect our lives, property and neighbors with a myriad of gauges and calibers. Keeps 'em guessing.

[Pat Riot]

1 hour ago, irish ike, SASS #43615 said:

According to the FAA and the courts the air space above your property is not yours.

It used to be, hence my comment.