Florida is leading a stunning effort after state lawmakers announced they would protect homeowners from Big Brother’s eye in the sky.
A groundbreaking new bill would allow Floridians to use “reasonable force” against surveillance drones hovering within 500 feet of their homes.
The legislation seeks to put power back in the hands of citizens concerned about privacy invasions from above.
Republican state Senator Keith Truenow’s bill (SB 1422) aims to amend Florida’s “Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act” to defend property owners from unwanted aerial surveillance.
The bill, which has already been unanimously approved by a committee, is now headed for a full Senate vote and would take effect on October 1 if passed.
For law-abiding citizens concerned about their constitutional right to privacy, this bill represents a significant step forward.
Current Florida law already prohibits private drone operators from spying on or recording people in their homes.
However, Truenow’s bill strengthens these protections by increasing penalties to a first-degree misdemeanor and explicitly authorizing homeowners to take action.
The bill also addresses serious national security concerns by prohibiting drones from carrying weapons of mass destruction or hoax WMDs.
It also strengthens penalties for operating drones without permission near critical infrastructure facilities like power plants and airports.
Democrat state Senator Jason Pizzo pointed out that the bill is incompatible with federal law:
“Last committee stop, there was mention that ‘reasonable force’ might include shooting it down. And I think a number of us have had some drone issues, I had one here a couple years ago, right on the balcony… But I don’t want anyone under the notion that they can go and just shoot things down from the air, which is actually punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.”
Truenow’s bill extends a 2024 act that made it illegal to take photos or videos of persons or private property using a drone without permission.
The federal government has pushed back against the state’s effort to empower homeowners.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) claims shooting at drones could result in civil penalties and criminal charges.
“It’s illegal under federal law to shoot at an aircraft,” the FAA stated. “A private citizen shooting at any aircraft – including unmanned aircraft – poses a significant safety hazard.”
“An unmanned aircraft hit by gunfire could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air,” it added.
“Shooting at an unmanned aircraft could result in a civil penalty from the FAA and criminal charges from federal, state or local law enforcement,” the agency continued.
This potential conflict between state and federal law highlights a classic constitutional battle over states’ rights and individual freedoms.
For Americans who value their constitutional freedoms, Florida’s bill represents a crucial defense of property rights and privacy in an age of increasing surveillance.
