Liberty Minute July 18 2013

On two occasions in a single week, surveillance drones operated from Florida?s Tyndall Air Force Base were destroyed in incidents that put the public at risk. On July 10, a drone was redirected over the Gulf of Mexico and ordered to self-destruct after two failed attempts to bring it in for a landing.

A week later, another drone crashed alongside US 98 at about 8:30 in the morning. This led authorities to shut down the busy interstate for an entire day.

The expanding domestic use of drones will mean increased risks to the public ? not merely from the abuses inherent in using them for warrantless surveillance, but also from the growing possibility of crashes and other mishaps. This is one of many reasons why cities across the country should emulate the example set by Deer Trail, Colorado. The municipal government of that village of 540 people is considering a proposal under which it would issue a $100 reward to ?any shooter who presents a valid hunting license and ? identifiable parts? of a federally operated drone.

As Deer Trail resident Philip Steel explains: ?We do not want drones in town. They fly in town, they get shot down.?

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.