Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Colion Noir dropped another heater — this time tackling a wild new frontier: using the Second Amendment to defend your privacy against drones.
Yep, you heard that right. Florida, always at the tip of the spear for pushing freedom-based laws, is advancing a bill that would allow homeowners to use reasonable force to take down drones flying too low over their property — specifically within 500 feet and under 200 feet of altitude.
Noir summed it up perfectly: if a drone is hovering outside your window, recording your every move like it’s starring in a weird DIY documentary, why shouldn’t you have the right to defend your airspace?
With a legally-owned shotgun, no less. As he put it, “if it’s hovering low enough for me to hit it with some birdshot, I can treat it like a clay pigeon with a camera.”
Sounds awesome, right? Well, of course, the federal government — and specifically the FAA — has jumped in to say “hold on.”
SEE ALSO: Can You Shoot Down a Drone?
According to the feds, drones are considered aircraft, and shooting at them could bring serious federal charges. Florida might say “blast away,” but Uncle Sam still says “touch an aircraft, and we’ll see you in court.”
Colion walked through the messy legal tug-of-war this creates. PCMag pointed out how vague “reasonable force” really is. Gizmodo highlighted how federal and state laws might clash. American Military News warned of lawsuits if the law isn’t crystal clear. And Fox News reminded everyone Florida already has privacy protections — this bill would just add more teeth.
Then Noir threw on the tinfoil hat (and let’s be honest, he might not be wrong): What if the federal government’s real concern isn’t protecting hobby drones but keeping their surveillance drones off-limits?
After all, if everything’s protected as “aircraft,” even government drones flying uninvited over your backyard are untouchable.
SEE ALSO: Mossberg Unleashes the 990 Aftershock Semi-Auto — NRA 2025
In a hilarious side note, Noir also pitched Mossberg’s new 990 Aftershock as the perfect “drone deterrent” — lightweight, fast-handling, and, let’s face it, way cooler than lugging a full tactical shotgun to your pool party.
At the end of the day, Noir boiled it down to one real question:
Where does defending your privacy end and reckless endangerment begin?
If Florida’s drone defense bill passes, you can bet Floridians will be gearing up — maybe even setting up backyard “skeet shooting” for intrusive drones.
But for now, even if that buzzing machine outside your window is begging for a little shotgun justice, you might want to check with a lawyer before you pull the trigger.
Props to Colion Noir for always finding the freedom angle nobody else is talking about.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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It is still against FEDERAL LAW to shoot ANYTHING that is flying !
Many places have restrictions for using firearms or air guns in residential areas. You might want to check local laws. How about a crossbow?
Don’t shoot. Do a little drone-on-drone interdiction. Use yours to take out someone else’s drone. Plausible deniability is the name of the game. “It was an accident”
If the FAA considers Drones as A/C then why doe’s the altitude restrictions apply to the Drones as stipulated for A/C as that alone would prohibit Drones from flying low over your property.
If there is a drone WITHIN the foot print of my property line and it’s below tree level, it shouldn’t be there and it’s fare game. If it’s just passing over, I don’t care. But if it slows down and drops below the tree line and hovers … PULL! 🤯😂
All airspace above military bases, airports and the various other locations to include the White house in DC all have controlled airspace around and above them. Access to fly in these areas must be granted. So anyone flying over my property must ask before entering my property or airspace.
Lots and lots of questions surrounding this one… What’s the difference between a neighbor flying his drone in his yard to peek over your fence to spy on your daughter hanging out at the pool versus him standing on a ladder peering over the fence staring at your daughter at the pool… or her second story window? His drone, his property… Peeping Tom laws are vague and as society progresses, so should the laws.
I’m thinking shotgun with an attachment to shoot a net to bring down the drone. Hang onto the drone to find out who’s it is and let the law handle it from there. They can view the footage and find out how invasive it is, maybe?
Within 500 feet of what? You? Your home? Your property line? That is the sticky widget question. 500 feet from your property is either someone else’s property or public domain. Filming someone from a public domain is mostly legal everywhere. There is also a lot of blue sky around a drone (or anything flying), so what is the liability for the 90% of your buckshot that misses the drone?
No, filming IN a public domain of those IN that Public domain is legal, filming from a public domain toward your neighbors house through a window is generally NOT legal, that’s where peeping Tom laws come in.
500 feet from my house and buildings is still my property. There other ways to stop a drone. Yes, rifles, shotguns and pistols are exceptional choices unless shooting them results you ending in jail. Black powder weapons have a much shorter range as does pellet rifle, etc. Compound, cross and long bows are ok but they take exceptional to hit a moving target. However, the act of shooting is what gets you in deep kimchee. But what about non “lethal” means? For example, a net launching device? I can think up a few other ways to use get rid of these parasites of privacy. Back in the previous century there was a device called the Prowler Fouler. It could launch non-lethal bean bags at miscreants of mayhem. The list goes on. Stopping drones is only limited by your imagination 🧐.
If it’s close enough to hit with a shotgun that means it is on my property. If it’s looking in my windows and flying around the perimeter of my house, I declare it to be on the menu. Flying over at 500 ft. or higher is no big deal for the most part while a Peeping Tom should be considered a crime in progress. Did I mention Federal makes 3 1/2″ 10 gauge magnums loaded with 18 copper plated 00 Buck?
No trespassing means just that. Invade my airspace and I will shoot your drone down. Then I will wait for you come and “try” to retrieve it.
dont many municipalities also have ordinances against firearm discharge within city limits that limit use to ranges and/or self defense? While privacy issues are relevant, Im pretty sure there are not localities where you can shoot or threaten to shoot someone for invading privacy if they arent actually attacking you.
Wow. The moderators on this site are weak sauce.
Good! 1A all the way!
Okay, so we shouldn’t shoot the drones, but what if we locate the drone operator? Surely it’s morally justified – if not legal – to tune those dweebs up a bit.
As a gun owner, a pilot, and a drone owner I fully support federal law on this. Do not shoot at aircraft. Do not blind pilots with lasers. Aside from any other consderation when you fire into the air you do not know where your shot will land.
I agree with the ability to shoot down drones. I don’t care who they belong to. If you’re low enough for me to shoot you with a shotgun, then you’re invading my privacy.
the government don’t care about privacy and property rights!