We Need a New Law to Counter Domestic Drone Threats

[Nevilledog]

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Defense One
@DefenseOne
IN COMMENTARY: Outside the United States, weaponized drones have already been used to attack heads of state and government officials

defenseone.com
We Need a New Law to Counter Domestic Drone Threats
The White House sent Congress a plan to protect Americans. It’s not a moment too soon for lawmakers to act.
7:07 PM · May 25, 2022

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2022/05/we-need-new-law-counter-domestic-drone-threats/367347/

Drones have changed how we work, play, and do business in America. Every day, they help deliver packages, inspect pipelines, monitor crops, carry out search-and-rescue operations, and perform a myriad of other beneficial tasks. But drones also pose growing risks to our public safety and national security.

Outside the United States, weaponized drones have already been used to attack heads of state and government officials: the prime minister of Iraq in November, the president of Venezuela in August 2018, and a public safety secretary in Mexico in July 2017. Mexican drug cartels have used commercial drones to attack law enforcement officers and civilians. In January, news sites showed vivid footage of a drone dropping four explosive devices on a drug cartel camp in the state of Michoacán, an attack attributed to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which is considered the country's most dangerous and powerful. They have also been used against U.S. troops and interests.

Inside the United States, criminals and other malicious actors are increasingly using drones to conduct illegal surveillance and industrial espionage, facilitate criminal activities, target critical infrastructure, and smuggle drugs across our southern border.

The trend is clear: the domestic threat posed by drones is real. We can’t afford to wait to act.

To lead in meeting the nation’s growing need, the Biden administration recently released the first whole-of-government plan to counter threats from drones. The Domestic Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems National Action Plan outlines eight actions we will pursue to close critical gaps in policy and law that directly impede our ability to defend our vital national-security interests while balancing the need to secure the airspace, protect civil rights and civil liberties, and advance commercial innovation.

*snip*

[harumph]

1. Uh, we should probably work on guns first.

[genxlib]

2. I was just thinking earlier

I have to do a whole lot more training registering and licensing to own a drone then I ever would need to do to own a gun.

I live in Palm Beach County and the FAA used to shut down drone traffic for a 35 mile radius whenever TFG was at mar a lago. Couldn’t even get the thing off the ground. Even if I could fly it, it wouldn’t have the range to get 1/10th of the way there so I am not sure what they thought they were protecting him from.

So drones would not be in my top 100 of security threats.

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. Hell, my drone license was terribly difficult.

Motherfuckers don't even have to take a test to own a GD gun. It just doesn't make any sense at all.

[genxlib]

4. No shit

I had to do a lot of preparation to pass that test. I figure I probably spent at least 10 hours prepping and I am smarter than the average bear.

It nearly kicked my ass due to eyesight. I did all my prep work on the computer where I could zoom into the maps as needed. Then I get to a dimly lit room and tried to read those aeronautical maps. Fuck those things are dense with tiny text. Nearly made me blind squinting enough to read.

Beyond recommending proper preparation, my number one suggestion is to take cheater glasses and a light source to the testing center.

And, not for nothing, the testing and registration set me back several hundred dollars.

So yeah I have little sympathy for these assholes that complain that such things are an infringement on their rights.

[Ferrets are Cool]

5. Ditto every word you said.

If knuckledraggers had to pass this test to buy a gun, there would be 90% fewer gun owners.