Is It Against The Law To Shoot Down A Drone In Iowa?

With all the reports of mysterious drones flying across the many states, is it even legal to shoot one down in Iowa?

Drones are uncrewed aerial vehicles controlled remotely that has found widespread application across hobbyist, commercial, and military sectors for an increasingly diverse range of purposes.

The FBI has been inundated with an unprecedented surge of drone-related reports highlighting growing concerns about aerial surveillance and potential security threats along the East Coast.

The sheer volume of approximately 5,000 drone sightings underscores a heightened state of public vigilance and potentially increasing technological vulnerabilities.

Of these thousands of reports, approximately 100 have been deemed credible enough to warrant further investigation, suggesting a significant signal-to-noise ratio in the drone surveillance landscape.

Some folks have suggested shooting down the unidentified drones.

So if you spotted a questionable drone flying over your property in Iowa...could you shoot it down?

The answer is...NO...The Desmoines Register reports that shooting down a drone is strictly prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration, constituting a federal crime even if the drone is flying over private property; instead, drone operators are legally required to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate by passing the FAA's Aeronautical Knowledge Test.

As technological capabilities continue to evolve, these drone sightings represent a critical intersection of public awareness, technological innovation, and national security concerns.