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
 

The key word in that article is "authorized". In Ontario there are drone laws that mostly amount to common sense. The difference comes in when you use a drone for business. If you fly for money you are required to file a flight plan with Transport Canada. At that point it becomes an "authorized" flight. I can see how that would be a criminal offense. There's a big difference between buzzing the neighbours and conducting a land survey.

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!"

Must have exceeded his daily limit.

Suppressors.   Gunshot? What Gunshot?

Hi,
 
Gotta love it when the law supersedes its own people and their livelihood. 
 
I have no issues with these drones, but too many people, and agencies are taking advantage of the situation, and the "honor" of each, is highly questionable, at the very least.
 
Not sure why they are trying to make a person the "example" ... and that state is ... out of its bin, and some judges need a new job at Disneyland!

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 believe drones are covered under the Sitar Amendment...

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

There must be some additional qualifications, otherwise all the people that bought even those phone controlled drones from Verizon would have to file flight paths with the FAA.