Congress lets homeowners shoot drones—but leaves them liable in state court
H.R. 1907 — Defense Against Drones Act of 2025 · Filed by Tim Burchett (R-TN) · Introduced Mar 6, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill allows homeowners to shoot down unmanned aircraft (drones) flying over their property using a shotgun if the aircraft is below 200 feet, provided state firearm laws permit it. The shooter must report the incident to the FAA if they can identify the drone's registration number, but is not required to return the damaged aircraft to its owner. State tort and criminal liability laws remain unaffected.
Why we flagged it
The bill creates a new private right to destroy federally regulated aircraft over one's property, framing it as property defense but creating tension with federal airspace authority and drone registration regimes. It is neither pure deregulation nor pure property protection—it is a collision between two legal domains.
What the text implies
- The bill permits destruction of federally registered aircraft without federal penalty, potentially undermining FAA enforcement of airspace rules and drone registration compliance.
- Subsection (f) preserves state tort and criminal liability, meaning a homeowner could face state prosecution or civil suit despite federal permission—creating a legal trap for citizens relying on this statute.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
shotgun manufacturers and ammunition suppliers (increased demand from homeowners purchasing firearms