biloxifalcon Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 I think I would've done the same thing. How the heel you're going to fly that thing into my backyard and start videotaping?The way William Merideth sees it, it’s pretty clear-cut: a drone flying over his backyard was a well-defined invasion of privacy, analogous to a physical trespassing.Not knowing who owned it, the Kentucky man took out his shotgun and fired three blasts of Number 8 birdshot to take the drone out."It was just right there," he told Ars. "It was hovering, I would never have shot it if it was flying. When he came down with a video camera right over my back deck, that's not going to work. I know they're neat little vehicles, but one of those uses shouldn’t be flying into people's yards and videotaping."Minutes later, a car full of four men that he didn’t recognize rolled up, "looking for a fight.""Are you the son of a b***h that shot my drone?" one said, according to Merideth.His terse reply to the men, while wearing a 10mm Glock holstered on his hip: "If you cross that sidewalk onto my property, there’s going to be another shooting."The men backed down, retreated to their car, and waited for the police to arrive."His only comment was that he hoped I had a big checkbook because his drone cost $1,800," Merideth added.The Kentuckian 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 Hillview Police Department did not immediately respond to Ars’ request for comment.A measured approach?The report of the downed drone comes a month after Ars reported on a similar incident in Modesto, California. But in that case, the drone operator was flying his drone over his parents’ farm, and it was shot down by a neighbor.Here, Merideth, who operates a local trucking company, said that he had seen "two or three" different drones in his backyard previously over the last year and was disturbed by their presence. "What recourse do we have?" he asked.The 43-year-old man claimed that law enforcement officials, including the county jailer, told him privately that they agreed with his actions. "The people that own the drones and the people that hate guns are the only ones that disagree with what I did," he said. "Now, if I’d have had a .22 rifle, I should have gone to jail for that.The diameter of those things are going to come down with enough force to hurt somebody. Number 8 birdshot is not. Number 8 is the size of a pinhead. The bottom line is that it's a right to privacy issue and defending my property issue. It would have been no different had he been standing in my backyard. As Americans, we have a right to defend our rights and property."So what’s next in this bizarre tale?"We have a lawyer and there's a court date and then there's going to be a hearing," Merideth said. "It's not going to stop with the two charges against me, which I'm confident that we'll get reduced or get dismissed completely."And what would Merideth like to tell this errant drone operator when he meets him again?"I would just like [him] to get some education on his toy and learn to respect the rights of the people," he said. "It's fine and dandy, and I think it's cool there's a camera on it, but just take it to a park or something—he's not a responsible drone owner." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kicker Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 My opinion, he was well within his right to shoot down the drone. Not sure about firing his weapon, but I'm going to guess it isn't illegal where he lives. Wanton endangerment is a huge stretch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biloxifalcon Posted July 30, 2015 Author Share Posted July 30, 2015 My opinion, he was well within his right to shoot down the drone. Not sure about firing his weapon, but I'm going to guess it isn't illegal where he lives. Wanton endangerment is a huge stretch.I feel the same man. I mean if you go flying the thing around folks backyard videoing, you gotta expect people to take offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Googlywoogly Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 My opinion, he was well within his right to shoot down the drone. Not sure about firing his weapon, but I'm going to guess it isn't illegal where he lives. Wanton endangerment is a huge stretch.Agreed. In my opinion they arrested the wrong person in this incident. The drone pilot has a lot of sauce too, coming to the mans property and confronting him about how the man reacted to his criminal trespassing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Door Gunner Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 I used to dove hunt a lot when I lived in FL. Bird shot came down all the time from other shooters. It's not that big of a deal. If that's all that happened good for him. Only thing I can say is. Three shots for a hovering target??? that would get you the name Old Three Shot for a week or two.PS. 7 1/2 shot is better IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capologist Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Yep, I think he was definitely in the right. That's no different than a peeping tom... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Statick Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 I agree with his actions. You can't go flying your **** on other people's property, especially with a camera violating their privacy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biloxifalcon Posted July 30, 2015 Author Share Posted July 30, 2015 I used to dove hunt a lot when I lived in FL. Bird shot came down all the time from other shooters. It's not that big of a deal. If that's all that happened good for him. Only thing I can say is. Three shots for a hovering target??? that would get you the name Old Three Shot for a week or two.PS. 7 1/2 shot is better IMO.They probably were messing with him, swerving it back and forth since they could see him. @ Old Three Shot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mookie3127 Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 I think he did the right thing. The way theyconfronted him, they were probably using the drone to check out homes for potential break-ins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toadfishtom Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Invasion of privacy,keep your drones out of my face Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Googlywoogly Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 As an aside, this is another example of a person using a hand gun to defend themselves without even having to draw it. If he hadn't had his glock handy the drone owner and his minions may have assaulted him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Ocean Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 **** the police. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Ocean Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ya_boi_j Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Straight #######. No reason he should have been arrested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great American Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 I would be honored to serve on that jury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hoopah! Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 I would be honored to serve on that jury.Which means they would strike you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RHEC Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 I wish they would stop calling them drones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moist Words Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 I wish they would stop calling them drones.Umm....ok. Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hoopah! Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Because green ranger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great American Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Which means they would strike you.I'm batting a 1000. Had jury duty twice and was called both times to serve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RHEC Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Umm....ok. Why?Because drones kill people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moist Words Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Because drones kill people.I'm not following your reasoning here man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RHEC Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 I'm not following your reasoning here man.Its like comparing a car to a tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moist Words Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Its like comparing a car to a tank.Alrighty then. Have a good night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Ocean Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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