It’s normal for hunters to consider shooting at deer and other forms of wildlife, but shooting at government drones is not something to cross the average mind. However, one community recently thought about this option. On Tuesday, the population of Deer Trail, Colorado, (598 residents) was set to vote on an ordinance deciding whether shooting federal drones would be permissible by law. The ordinance proposed specifications for the types of weapons and ammunition that would be deemed acceptable when aiming at the drones. Unfortunately, plans shifted when Mayor Frank Fields announced that the ordinance must first be considered by a district court to determine potential legalities for firing at such drones. Many in the community have felt that the presence of the drones violates citizen privacy guidelines.

Resident Phillip Steel is not happy with the drones hovering in the vicinity and offered a suggestion. “I am proposing to shoot it down.” He said before adding, “What has me fired up is it’s trespassing. It doesn’t belong there. Yes, it’s privacy. But that’s only one part of it. Who’s going to be flying these drones?”

Resident Robert Copely agreed with Steel, and said that if the need arose he would also want to shoot at a drone. “I would shoot a drone down if it’s peering in my window, scanning me, and it’s within elevation where I can nail it,” Copely said.

Not all residents consider the placement of the drones to be a violation. Daniel Domanoski does not agree with his fellow residents. “That’s a federal offense to destroy government property, and on top of that it’s a ridiculous thing and embarrassing the town,” he said.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, “The overall purpose of this test site program is to develop a body of data and operational experiences to inform integration and the safe operation of these aircraft in the National Airspace System.”

The FAA plans to place six similar drone sites; however, location details have not been made available to the public. The administration will allow the use of these drones within domestic areas until 2015.

[Image Via Wikimedia Commons]