Should Drones Be Regulated?

Do you want drones spying on you or getting stuck in the tree in your backyard? According to the article, “Invasion of the Drones” (source 1), a drone is an remote controlled vehicle without passengers, or an unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV. There has been a lasting debate over whether drones should be regulated by the government or if they shouldn’t. Drones should be regulated by the government to protect our privacy, wildlife, and national security. One reason that drones should be regulated by the government is that drones can endanger wildlife. In the article, “Are private drones privacy pirates?” (source 3), it states, “In April, volunteers at Zion National Park in Utah watched a drone buzz over a herd of bighorn sheep. The drone separated
the adults from the young.” When the young get separated from the adults it makes them more vulnerable for an attack from a predator because they can’t defend themselves as well. When in a group predators don’t pose as big of a threat because there are so many eyes watching for them but when there is a smaller group predators can sneak up easier and can catch the young easier. When the young are in a group of their own the predators are having an open season. Also in source three, it states, “The National Park Service announced that it will ban low-flying drones in all of its parks. The decision came out of Concern for the safety of visitors and the effects of the drones on wildlife.” With a ban over the drones the National Parks are protecting the many different wildlife in the parks. From the bighorn sheep to animals like birds. If drones were regulated the government then wildlife would be protected in places other than National Parks. For example, drones flying over a forest or in a forest could separate fawns from their mothers, and stop the natural routine of the forest.
Another reason drones should be regulated is that drones can be dangerous and a threat to national security.
In source one, it states, “ Drones could carry explosives or surveillance equipment. This could have an impact on national security.” Drones are much smaller than planes or other flying vehicles, they could fly in places where the others couldn’t which would be very convenient to terrorists or people who would like to pose a threat to the national security. At airports for example, a drone could fly to different planes and plant explosives. In the article, “For farmers, small drones could help generate bigger profits” (source 2), it states, “‘We can’t see them,’ says Andrew Moore of the Nation Agricultural Aviation Association. Moore’s group wants the FAA to require drones to have lights that would help airplanes figure out where they are. They also want drones to come with tracking systems.” Because some farmers use drones to watch their crops, crop dusters have a chance to crash into them or get them caught in the propellers. The plane would probably crash injuring the crops, and even the pilot, all because of a drone. If drones are a risk to national security and can be dangerous shouldn't they be regulated?
The last reason that drones should be regulated because they can invade your
privacy.
In source three it states, “At a beach last year, a mother became upset when a drone snapped photos of her and her daughter while they were tanning.” Drones can be very useful if you want to spy on people. They can fly above everyone using their cameras to spy on the people below. Police could even use it to watch you without you knowing. In source one it states, “For instance, there have been many reports of drones spying on sunbathing women.” Would you want people spying on you with a drone when your at the beach? Even if your not at the beach someone could just be spying on you. If someone wanted to rob your house they could use a drone to assess the layout of your property and if you have security. They could do this without even having to step onto your property. Drones not being regulated is a huge privacy issue because they can be hard to see and can observe from a height without you noticing. You may say that Drones should not be regulated by the Government because they are Convenient. You could say they are convenient because Dominos could deliver hot pizzas to your door with a drone. But, what would happen if 500 people ordered pizzas at the same time let's say, on superbowl sunday. The airspace would be so crowded that many drones could run into birds or other drones and end up crashing into people's backyards. Is the idea of having a pizza or package delivered by drone more important than the wildlifes safety and having a non-clogged airway?