Public Radio East serves Eastern North Carolina by providing news, fine arts, and informational programming that challenges, stimulates, educates, and entertains an intellectually curious audience.

© 2026 Public Radio East

Public Radio East
800 College Court
New Bern, NC 28562

EIN 56-1802728
Public Radio For Eastern North Carolina 89.3 WTEB New Bern 88.5 WZNB New Bern 91.5 WBJD Atlantic Beach 90.3 WKNS Kinston 89.9 W210CF Greenville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
US

'Drone Shoot-Down Bill' Advances In Oklahoma

Drones fly at the International CES held last month in Las Vegas. In Oklahoma, a state senator has introduced a bill that would allow land-owners to shoot a drone down if it's above their property.
John Locher
/
AP
Drones fly at the International CES held last month in Las Vegas. In Oklahoma, a state senator has introduced a bill that would allow land-owners to shoot a drone down if it's above their property.

A bill that would let property owners shoot down a drone that's over their land has made its way out of a Senate committee in Oklahoma, setting up a potential vote on the matter.

It's unclear whether the legislation has a chance of passage; we're reporting on it here as another facet of the debate over how drones are integrated (and regulated) in modern society.

The bill, SB 492, provides "civil immunity for damage or destruction of a drone on personal property." It was introduced recently by Sen. Ralph Shortey; the Oklahoma Senate Judiciary Committee approved it Tuesday by a 6-4 vote.

From the AP:

"Shortey says he's received reports of people shooting down drones, but acknowledged he's unaware of anyone being sued for doing so.

"He says landowners have no way of knowing the intention of a drone's owner, and shouldn't be held liable for shooting one down."

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

US
Bill Chappell is a writer and editor on the News Desk in the heart of NPR's newsroom in Washington, D.C.