Colorado Town Considers Drone-Hunting Licenses 341
New submitter ciotog writes "The town of Deer Trail, Colorado (population approximately 550) will be voting next month on whether to offer licenses for drone hunting. Furthermore, a bounty of $100 for each drone shot down will be offered (upon offering proof that the drone was potentially owned by the U.S. government). Is this just a fun gimmick, or a serious commentary on an increasingly surveillance based society?"
Proof it's U.S. Government owned (Score:5, Informative)
Encouraging destruction of government property...
With a population of 550, Deer Trail, CO could suddenly find itself a bunch of empty buildings if Washington wished it.
Re:I hope it happens. (Score:5, Informative)
And there's certainly no legitimate uses for aerial devices besides spying on people. I'm given to understand that missing persons [americasmi...adults.com] cases never crop up in rural Colorado. And I certainly can't envision using aerial drones to help with wildfire control. Or environmental surveys. Or mapping. Or weather. Or any number of legitimate government functions. It's all to spy on intermodal
Re:Drones aren't deer. (Score:5, Informative)
Shoot at these things enough and they will get equipped to shoot back. And their aim's a lot better
I can think of no better way to get all drone programs shut down post-haste.
Re:or could it be ... (Score:5, Informative)
Everyone, please! Take this story seriously!
It was actually on the news the other night and they interviewed I believe the mayor, the guy drafting the bill, and some other sheriff or somebody. They clearly stated "this is a symbolic gesture only". Everything about this bill says so. You're only allowed to use a shotgun firing pellets (lot of good that will do with the drone at altitude), and the bounties paid out are nowhere near a practical amount of money for the effort put in.
Besides all that, they even said that they have never even seen a drone over the town.
Re:Nope (Score:5, Informative)
No, they're much, much larger. Look up at a 747 flying overhead (assuming you're not near an airport and in the flight path): it's tiny, to you. Now fly one of those 4-rotor "quadrocopter" R/C toys at 20 feet over your head. It's not that small, and would be pretty easy to hit with a shotgun, certainly much easier than a clay pigeon. Clay pigeons travel faster than R/C vehicles.