Drone-Mounted Handgun, Flamethrower Reignites Debate

The quiet whirring of the drone’s propellers gives way to the sound of gunshots - pop, pop, pop, pop - in the 14-second video titled “Flying Gun.”

The YouTube video of a drone-mounted handgun firing rounds into the Connecticut woods - and a companion video of a flying flamethrower lighting up a spit-roasting Thanksgiving turkey - have reignited efforts by state legislators to make it a crime to weaponize an unmanned aerial vehicle.

While the Federal Aviation Administration mulls regulations on drones, a number of states have established their own rules - though most of them focus on drone-mounted cameras as threats to privacy and security. Connecticut would be one of the first to restrict how drone owners can modify their craft into potentially dangerous weapons.

“I am a huge Second Amendment supporter and it would make me very happy because I don’t see any, any civilian purpose for a flying gun,” said Clinton police Sgt. Jeremiah Dunn, whose department investigated the video.

The “Flying Gun” video, posted last summer by Central Connecticut State University student Austin Haughwout, drew the attention of the FAA as well. No charges have been filed but the FAA said last week it was still investigating.