Well, that’s okay then:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned New Jersey residents against shooting at mysterious unidentified drones.
Given the source, I’d say it would be almost mandatory for the folks in Joizee to have at it.
Here’s my take. This whole drone swarm thing in NJ seems to be shrouded in secrecy, for all sorts of reasons. And nowadays, where there’s secrecy, there’s almost always Gummint skullduggery afoot. (And not even just nowadays — Kennedy assassination / Lee Harvey Oswald murder coff coff.)
So it stands to reason for us to expect that if the Fibbies are telling us not to do something, it’s because that “something” endangers one of their little clandestine reindeer games, no?
I’d suggest light birdshot or even .410 000, for those interested. Just make sure that the fall of shot isn’t close to houses or streets, and we’ll all be good.
(me getting in some practice prior to a drive trip to NJ)
Note to any Gummint alphabet agency snooping around: the above is what’s called “satire”, “humor” or even “hyperbole”. Feel free to look those words up if you’re unclear on the concept, you assholes.
And my final thought: given the dramatis personae in this little scenario, it’s quite possible that nobody in government knows what the fuck is going on — if indeed anything is — and likewise has no idea how to investigate it either. I wouldn’t place any bets against this hypothesis, either.
The ChiComs send balloons to float over the US a couple of years ago and now we’re dealing with drones. Anyone else get the impression that the response from our government is being tested?
Not to worry, The administration will hold a CLASSIFIED hearing for Congress.
Oh — good, that should help quiet down the rumors and speculation. !!!!!
I suspect the Fed.Gov knows exactly what alphabet agency is behind this.
To quote (I think) William Gibson:
“The future is here, it’s just not evenly distributed”.
Right now people are using drones for everything from utility company inspection work (pipe and power lines) to washing buildings, package delivery, surveillance and…fireworks replacements.
Most of these are NOT being done by the government, and the only thing the government has to do with them is that they are registered with the FAA if they are big enough.
A couple weeks ago Spawn and I noticed 3 bright red dots (it was evening) over a park. A half hour later there was drone light show. Probably 50 drones in a programmatically controlled swarm. A few days later wife and I were driving through downtown and we saw a much bigger light show of the same kind.
As to shooting them down, shotguns *don’t reach that far*, and shooting up like that is a bad idea in most places.
You’re better off getting a commercial grade laser and blinding the thing, or building some other sort of directed energy weapon.
The FBI is involved, in part, because drones are considered “aircraft” legally, and shooting down “aircraft” is illegal under most conditions.
New Jersey authorities would spare no effort trying to catch anyone shooting at drones. It’s illegal in most places, anyway, but even hobbyist drones can fly higher than any shotgun with any loading can reach. Something like a Flakpanzer Gepard would be needed with its radar-directed dual 35mm cannons. They’ve been pretty effective in Ukraine.