Coming to a protest near you.

[sad sally]

The majority of Americans - including Democrats - support the President's use of drones as a "bloodless weapon" against foreigners, especially if they are or live near terrorists. Isn't it right that we become the next logical target of this now tested weapon? The drone lobbyists have succeeded in convincing the FAA, and obviously the administration, that drones are needed to spy on and, if necessary, kill Americans.

What a nifty way to disperse crowds, and maybe even eliminate them, without having to use on-the-ground police!
#####

TUESDAY, APR 24, 2012 04:37 AM PDT
Drones for “urban warfare”
Manufacturers are targeting U.S. police forces for sales, as drones move from the Middle East to Main Street
BY JEFFERSON MORLEY

(snip)

Uniquely among U.S. manufacturers, VDI touts its ability to weaponize drones for local police departments. “If you think weaponized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are still too new to combat zones for law enforcement to consider them for domestic use, think again,” said the editors of Special Weapons for Military and Police in February:

The Kevlar fuel tank mounted beneath the ShadowHawk allows it to stay in the air long enough to provide complete surveillance of an area and engage suspects with buckshot, tear gas, grenades and less-lethal capabilities.

(snip)

With 56 domestic government agencies now authorized by the FAA to fly drones in U.S. airspace, law enforcement is leading the way in the adoption of unmanned vehicles. According to documents published last week by Electronic Frontier Foundation, 22 of the authorized agencies are primarily law enforcement departments, while another 24 entities (mainly universities) have law enforcement functions under them.

Among the domestic users are the Department of Homeland Security, which flies a fleet of nine drones over the country’s northern and southern borders, and the FBI. A Bureau spokesman declined to comment on the nature and purpose of the FBI’s drones saying that he could not discuss “investigative techniques.”

While industry spokesmen say existing laws will adequately protect civil liberties and privacy, Congress held no hearings on the implications of domestic drones, and a wide range of opponents insist the drones pose a threat to privacy.

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/24/drones_for_urban_warfare/

[orpupilofnature57]

1. And when the next Lex Luthor

gets one , Corporate Mercenaries will have to help the Lame inept government " investigative techniques " Halleeburton once again will save the day.

[sad sally]

3. Can you imagine the justice department's argument the first time there's an "unintended target"

killed in the US? If the notion of a drone's responsibility ever becomes meaningful, would a self-conscious and willful machine choose its own ends and even be considered a person with rights? Pilots of drones who kill innocents aren't culpable, so it must be the machines fault?

[99th_Monkey]

2. This whole domestic use of drones is way creepy.

I keep fantasizing about buying a shotgun and blasting one of these drones out of the sky..

[sad sally]

4. Please be careful - I fear they might take aim against an armed threat.

[mmonk]

5. That was on an episode of Harry's Law (she shot one).

[99th_Monkey]

6. cool ~nt

[Unaccountable]

7. Spam deleted by gkhouston (MIR Team)