North Dakota Passes Bill Legalizing Armed Police Drones
With the increasing popularity of drones, it should come as no surprise that many police forces around the world have begun to use the devices to help them with the work they have to carry out. For the vast majority of time, though, police drones are generally only used for surveillance or to assist in searches.
That could be about to change though thanks to a new bill that has been passed in North Dakota. The bill effectively gives law enforcement the opportunity to use a variety of non-lethal weapons on drones, allowing them to incapacitate suspects and those who are a violent without putting officers in any sort of danger.
Rick Becker, a Republican representative, originally sponsored the bill but only did so in order to push through a law to allow police operated drones to carry cameras. The amendment to allow the devices to also carry stun guns, beanbag rounds, tear gas and other weapons was added without his consent by a local law enforcement lobbying group.
Fortunately for those concerned by the new bill, critics in the house ensured that no drone should be carry a weapon capable of delivering lethal force.
