As usual, the government is taking contradictory positions. Political arrogance and neo-Nazi-ism seems to be all too common.
We are told/reassured that drones operated by our government domestically, will be only used professionally and for legitimate national security needs. However all too often government authorities use their position nefariously ranging from authoritarianism, cronyism, to voyeurism.
I have mixed feelings about domestic drone usage. If they were only used ethically for legitimate purposes; I would have no problem with it.
Allegedly government officials (often allowed authority, but under a veil of secrecy. With little or no disclosure. With little or no checks or balances) have already used government drones at taxpayer expense for voyeurism, stalking, and cronyism.
In the vast majority of cases, (domestically) I would consider it illegal to shoot at a drone. I would think it would be a crime criminally and civilly. I think it most cases it would be considered reckless and/or wanton public endangerment and reckless and/or wanton destruction of property to shoot at drones.
In most cases I think it could be and should be prosecuted under existing laws; rather than making vast sweeping laws that would mostly be redundant and in some cases would probably violate people's rights and legitimate uses.
I think the government has abused its use of domestic drones, however I think issuing drone hunting licenses and bounties for drones is an equally excessive absurd response.
As far as the federal government's proposal to make shooting down drones illegal. Would government use selective enforcement (prejudice) and/or would the government make itself exempt of laws to shoot down drones? Would aerial gunnery (testing and practice) be illegal? Would anti-ballistic missile tests be illegal? If terrorists were using drones, would it be illegal to shoot down a terrorist drone(s)? The government, legislation, judicial system and enforcement often lacks morality, reason and sense. Regretfully authorities often make laws and rules with no regards to the full consequences.
I find this story reminiscent of the reassurance we got that airport security screenings would be done in a professional manner, respect our rights, and that the images would not be saved. Yet to find out that many airport screeners have acted sophomoric, to use their security screening position to voyeur sexually, sexually harass the public, and allegedly hundreds of thousands of images have been saved indefinitely.
Often what is done under the guise of being good, ends up being used for evil. Often at taxpayer expense.