I’d be interested to see how that changes if you launch a net
Any drone I would be able to pick off with a firearm would have to be low and slow enough for me to capture it with less violent means.
Then I’m not shooting anything. I’m seizing property that shouldnt be here like I would a kids frisbee or a an abandoned vehicle. They’re free to ask nicely for it to be returned
You'll want to examine this a bit more closely: is the aircraft in a location it should not be? Above your house is likely to be a valid place for a drone, whether you like it or not. Exceptions are for things like airports (other air traffic) and sporting events (large crowds).
So when you use a net to capture the drone out of the sky, you are not collecting it from its location of abandonment on your property, you are stealing it. (That's assuming more lax rules on disabling drones vs. other aircraft, per the sibling comment.)
Surely that must depend on the altitude the drone is flying at. Surely I can use a net to capture a drone flying 8 feet above the ground in my backyard.
Well, I assume it’s not “abandoned”, as such, while it’s in operation so I wouldn’t think it’s free to claim. If it’s being flown recklessly I might try to capture it with the justification that it threatened the personal safety of myself and those around me. I do not know if that justification would fly (heh) and I’m pretty sure I’d be on the hook for proving it.
But that’s really all assuming; I’m not a lawyer, just a layman with an interest in logical systems.
Edit:
I should add that I generally think about the regulations for small drones (<.55 pounds and some other things) rather than the <55-pound ones because I have looked into flying one. I still think it’s maybe not the best idea to net a 30+ pound piece of flying machinery but the pilot certainly has more things to worry about.
Actively trying to take it down would be in legal gray area, but you'd be probably in the clear if in court it was proven it was there intentionally and not in distress.
If it fell in "aircraft in distress" case you're fucked because it was operating legally.
Any delivery drone flying at 8 feet above the ground in your backyard is delivering to you, and would be probably implicitly considered to have your consent.
Any drone I would be able to pick off with a firearm would have to be low and slow enough for me to capture it with less violent means.
Then I’m not shooting anything. I’m seizing property that shouldnt be here like I would a kids frisbee or a an abandoned vehicle. They’re free to ask nicely for it to be returned