20 Years in Prison for Shooting Down a Drone?

I know there are some drone enthusiasts here, as indicated by recent topics. Some of that discussion involved the case of the fellow in Kentucky who shot down a drone he thought was spying on his sunbathing teenage daughter.
 
According to the FAA, from a legal standpoint shooting down a drone is no different from shooting down a plane.
 
Summation, links and comments here: https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/16/04/16/0331251/drone-shooting-is-now-a-federal-crime-faa-confirms
 

Mental note:  Blind the drone, THEN shoot it down.  Plausible deniability ...
 
"Gee, yes, it appears it was zoomed in on my underage daughters crotch, then all of a sudden it was gone!"

Suppressors.   Gunshot? What Gunshot?

He'll never get 20 years. There's mass shootings every week and gunshot victims every day and you never hear of people getting 20 years. IT's 'Merrica after all. Shooting stuff is in the constitution, item 2, I believe.

Apparently the FAA is now on record that they are covered as aircraft by U.S. Code Title 18 Part I Chapter 2 § 32.

Hobby drones/model aircraft (weight under 55 pounds) operated for recreation are limited to an altitude of 400 feet above the ground in direct visual sight of the operator and must not operate within five miles of an airport among other restrictions. Under those conditions, it is only required to register the UAV, but not to file a flight plan. If the same drone is operated for money then you need FAA permission. 
 
Clearly the draconian punishments for interfereing with operation of an aircraft, tampering with or damaging one, or interfereing in the flight of one were designed to deter bad actors from endangering large aircraft or their passengers. But a vehicle weighing 55 pounds falling from altitude after having been attacked poses a significant danger as well. The principle is pretty well established that the owner of property does not have the right to control the airspace above his land, and must defer to FAA rules and federal statutes. Perhaps it would be wise to have a law that makes damage to small UAV's without other property damage or injury a lesser offense, but under the current interpretation, the little guys fall under the same law as the big guys. Hold your fire.

 
Interesting stuff on the legal front . 
 
So what happens if Your an aviation buff that happens to fly high powered gas RC planes as a hobby  and you decide to host a private topless pool party with Bubbles the local Exotic Dancer …
While your teaching Bubbles how to fly one of your prized  RC planes on your private property , Bubbles spots a drone coming in low checking out her upper body tan line . She hands you back the controls to the RC while she goes to get her cell phone to snap a pic . During the exchange you accidentally loose control  of your prized WWII replica and it goes all Kamikaze and slams into the drone and crashes right on to your property  …
 
Legally speaking ,
Do you think they are gonna throw the book at you because you were flying a WWII Japanese Zero ?
 
Kenny 
 

Ampfixer:
He'll never get 20 years. There's mass shootings every week and gunshot victims every day and you never hear of people getting 20 years. IT's 'Merrica after all. Shooting stuff is in the constitution, item 2, I believe.
 
 
 I think it actually says "shoot first and then ask questions"

kennywtelejazz

 

 
    Don't Shoot I'm One Of The Good Guys 
 
Kenny
 
 
 
 

Love it
 
 
I'm often told I drone on a bit

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBTCwkPnzK8
 
hth

I remember a time when I thought that I had rights. 
 
Then, I turned six...