We all know about the guy in Bullitt County that shot down the drone, William Merideth took out his shotgun and fired three blasts of Number 8 birdshot at a drone that was posing no threat or danger. Meredith says he had the right to fire his gun within the city limits because “It was just right there,” What? He said
“It was hovering, I would never have shot it if it was flying. When he came down with a video camera right on my back deck, that’s not going to work. I know they’re neat little vehicles, but one of those shouldn’t be flying into people’s yards and videotaping.”
The problem is that’s highly illegal. And what happens when the owners of the legally operated drone came to see why someone would shoot down and destroy their $1800 piece of property? William Merideth threatens them with his other gun; a 10mm Glock holstered on his hip. Merideth told them
“If you cross that sidewalk onto my property, there’s going to be another shooting.”
William Merideth was arrested Sunday evening in Hillview, Kentucky, just south of Louisville and charged with criminal mischief and wanton endangerment. He was released the following day.
The owners of the drone have released the below video clearly showing the flight path of the done.
I am an owner of a Phantom 3 Professional Drone. I would encourage anyone who has ever thought about purchasing a drone to get one. You can learn more about Drones on this website and this Drone Facebook Page and purchase one for yourself HERE.
Just My Opinion
If you see someone walking around close to your yard, would you think maybe they are gonna look at my daughter in her swim suit, maybe they are gonna look for something to steal, maybe I should shoot them? Of course you wouldn’t right? Maybe they are just walking by looking around and enjoying the day. So why would you think differently about someone flying their drone?
It’s never OK to get your gun and shoot at something just because you think it may be looking at you. People that do things such at this is exactly why gun control is such an issue. I am all for protecting your home against invaders, but a drone flying by is hardly a threat and certainly isn’t invading your home. But But But…. What if it’s looking at my wife in a swim suit? NO you still can’t legally shoot it! But But But…. What if it’s looking for something to steal? Again NO you still can’t legally shoot it!
Drones are the future. In the years to come we will see them regularly in the air delivering packages, police will use them for locating missing kids and the elderly, firefighters and EMS will use them to save lives, there are many great uses for drones and they are here to stay. Even facebook has plans in place for future drone use.
So don’t shoot them!
Update
The original media report started off with “Man shoots down a drone spying on his daughter.” If you read anything that came out after this guy went to the news media with his story, you would have read that the owner of said drone has come out with video showing:
A) the drone was WAY higher than the man claimed (Just under 200′ minimum, almost 300′ when shot down).
B) The video from the unit shows that the camera was forward facing (what you do when you are flying) and not looking down on the neighbors.
C) The cameras on these drones are terrible for any “spying” beyond about 20′. It is essentially using the camera on your smartphone to spy. You can’t at any range, and definitely at the height this unit was flying.
I use mine to take photos. It’s sad that drones are being demonized, by people that don’t have a clue about them.
