Drones spark debate on air space ownership rights

Washington

WILLIAM Merideth had just finished grilling dinner for his family when he saw a drone hovering over his land. So he did what he said any Kentuckian would do: he grabbed his Benelli M1 Super 90 shotgun, took aim, and unleashed three rounds of birdshot.

"The only people I've heard anything negative from are liberals that don't want us having guns and people who own drones," said the truck company owner, now a self-described "drone slayer". Downing the quadcopter, which had a camera, was a way to assert his right to privacy and property, he said.

The drone was owned by John Boggs, a hobbyist, who told authorities he was trying to take pictures of the scenery. He argues in a lawsuit filed this month in US District Court i…