— the donut being what we constitutionalists refer to as the substantive area that rings the giant, empty liberal hole in Denver/Boulder that the Democrats control — not everyone here in my home state is interested in following the Bloomberg / Obama agenda, which aims to essentially use Colorado as a southwestern liberal outpost of the progressive’s northeast and west coast headquarters.
In fact, we’re up to even more of our outlawism here in the Centennial State. Like, for instance, this inspired bit of local civil disobedience:
Deer Trail, Colorado (population 600 or so) is to vote on a local ordinance that would allow drone hunting licenses and bounties for shooting down UAVs, according to ABC affiliate KMGH-TV.
Those with a valid drone hunting license will be rewarded US$100 if they present “identifiable parts” of UAVs “known to be owned or operated by the United States federal government,” the draft ordinance states.
“We do not want drones in town,” local Phillip Steel, who came up with the draft, tells KMGH-TV. “They fly in town, they get shot down.”
If passed, the ordinance would see one-year drone hunting licenses sell for $25, and there’s talk of a novelty drone-hunting festival to boost tourism.
To Steel it’s a serious issue, however. “This is a very symbolic ordinance. Basically, I do not believe in the idea of a surveillance society, and I believe we are heading that way.”
The town board is set to vote on the ordinance on Aug. 6.
Now, obviously what’s being considered here is largely unlikely to yield any significant loss of government property — and the aim, even ostensibly, is not to be able to take down Reapers with small arms fire — but too many local and state law enforcement agencies, as well as bureaucratic agencies, are beginning to use small, light mini-drones to essentially go out searching for “crimes” — with no reasonable cause.
Deer Trail is signaling to those law enforcement and federal bureaucratic types outside of their jurisdiction that, should they want to keep their toys, they’d be better off keeping them outside of local airspace. That airspace may be controlled by the federal government; but once you begin aiming cameras to spy on citizens, a new calculus kicks in: you can keep your airspace. But we aim to take down your cameras.
So yes. I will be paying the $25 for a license if this thing passes. Because, well, it’s just so fucking cool. And to become the greatest of the great drone hunters, I will happily does myself with female drone urine, wear my tinfoil camo, and learn to make whirring noises with some specialty reeds that I’m sure the Duck Dynasty boys can figure out a way to come out with.
And no, I don’t care a whit about the commentators at the link who are suddenly so concerned about the destruction of government property. Let them live as penned sheep corralled constantly by some lightweight unmanned flying Border Collie.
Me? If I want people watching, I’ll go to one of those specialty clubs and pay for it. Just like the Founders would have expected.
Is there a bag limit on the drones? Do you get to keep it?
Inquiring minds want to know.
How is a citizen supposed to know whether a drone spying on his real estate belongs to a governmental entity, as opposed to, say a pervert or potential burgler?
I wonder if they’ll sell the licenses to non-residents? I’d buy one just to hang it on my cube wall.
If the government is worried about their property being destroyed, I suggest they don’t fly it over places where people who value liberty live.
If it’s over my property, it is my property.
what if you shoot Bambi drone’s mother? :(
This is a very symbolic ordinance.
The ordinance may be symbolic, but the ordnance will be very real.
Yeah, the FAA is getting its’ panties in a bunch and threatening unspecified consequences.
Somebody ought to remind them that “government drones” may not refer to just the flying variety….
It would be a shame to condemn poor Bambi drone to dying alone out there. Guess I’d have to track it down and mount it on my wall with Mama drone. #caring
Methinks the Town of Deer Trail just came up with a great way to generate a budget surplus; I’ll gladly purchase a license. Might even spend my vacation dollars visiting. See what the entrepeneurial American spirit can come up with! Lemons/lemonade!
Jeff, new side business for you – Drone hunting guide.
I do not believe in the idea of a surveillance society, and I believe we are heading that way.
Kills me when people posit crap in the future when it’s already here. #keepUPalready
Colorado Sheriffs featured in this months “1st Freedom” NRA magazine.
Yes I want one, and hope if the ordinance passes, they will make them available to folks out of state.
Also, “female drone urine” is a perfect example of why this blog is my favorite read :)
Yes. “Female drone urine” is a classic.
Nice one Squid!
I wonder if the Estes model rocket people have a motor powerful enough to get to drone territory.
Worth looking into.
There are definitely model rocket motors that could carry a missile high enough to hit a drone. However, making that missile an effective weapon is another story. The average model rocket would bounce off a drone.
Sizes up to at least “N” are available through the amateur rocket community (though not on the shelf at Hobby Lobby).
Homebrewed engines go much larger than that.
a chicken in every pot and an omni-directional claymore on every rocket.
[…] Jeff is ready to go: […]
Wherein I quote Jeff and Squid.
I’m sure it’s illegal but if you could get a jamming signal up near a drone it might go into an auto pilot “stay level until further instructions” routine. I’m thinking a directional broadcast antenna propped on a wood sled that you point towards/at the drone should do it.
OTOH, cranky, those things use jet engines (especially the Feds). Google up “FOD jet engines” and see what you get. And the smaller ones with rotors wouldn’t take too kindly to it either…. especially if you deploy a big net.
Pop a chaff round ahead of a jet-powered drone and you could give it an owie?
The guidance system is where you will have your work cut out for you.
“I’m thinking a directional broadcast antenna propped on a wood sled that you point towards/at the drone should do it.”
A few magnetrons from salvaged microwave ovens and some kind of homebrewed phased array might do something interesting.