Originally Posted by
Cyclosaurus
For sure the laws are going to be adapted, but I don't think its about more "rights" to the space, any more than if someone decides to sit down in your front lawn and not move, they have more "rights" than you. But you really don't have the right to act violently to resolve the situation; you have to get the police to handle it rather than take the law into your own hands. Or if someone parks their car in your driveway, you can't smash their car up, you have to get it legally moved or have the police deal with it, but in the meantime, your driveway is blocked. This is the price of a civilized, law-abiding society. It is doubtful even with changes to the law that property owners will ever have the right to destroy drones for simply hovering over their property.
Not sure I buy that. I've seen plenty of people violently ejected from private property. When the police arrive they usually arrest the trespasser not the evicter. I'm talking about bars and retail establishments but private property is private property.
As to a somebody operating an aircraft "in" my backyard. If it's below the tree canopy and I can safely remove it I may do so. Violently. If it comes within arms reach that in my mind is a danger. I will protect myself as seems right for the moment. Not going to worry about the law at that point.
You can point out the details of the law. But cops often talk about what a "reasonable" person would do. I suspect we are going to find that "reasonable" people are quite willing to take a stick or baseball bat to drones that come within their reach. Even if it's not in their backyard. If and or when these cases go to court I'm not betting on the drones rights. Yes I agree discharging a firearm in these situations is excessive.