Keeping drones out of Missouri's skies gains support
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Keeping drones out of Missouri's skies gains support

Date: February 5, 2013
By: Andrew Weil
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 46

Intro: 
A plan to keep drones out of your backyard could ground a new higher education program for good.
RunTime:  0:49
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap:  An M-U program run through the NPR-affiliate, KBIA in Columbia, which uses drone technology to collect news came under fire Tuesday. 

This comes after public testimony on a plan that would ban state agencies and Missourians from using un-manned drones for surveillance purposes.

The bill sponsor says he's fine with students learning about drones but is concerned about them using it for news gathering.

But KBIA's content director, Scott Pham says the drone is never used over land without the owner's permission. 

Actuality:  PHAM3.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "I'm in public radio, you know, we're not chasing down ambulances we're not looking for criminals or scandals or something, we're telling these big deep stories that seek to explain."

AP reports 9 states have currently proposed limiting law enforcement's use of drones.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Andrew Weil.

Intro: 
A plan to keep drones out of your backyard is gaining support at the state Capitol.
RunTime:  0:37
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The American Civil Liberties Union and a handful of farming groups testified in favor of the plan that would ban state agencies and Missourians from using un-manned drones for surveillance purposes.

Republican Bethany Representative Casey Guernsey sponsors the plan.

But says it still needs to be re-worked to ensure that it doesn't inadvertently ban businesses from using drone technology for other uses.

Actuality:  GUERN4.WAV
Run Time:  00:04
Description: "We certainly don't want to see the state of Missouri get in the business of using drone technology."

The Associated Press reports 9 states have currently proposed limiting law enforcement use of drones.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Andrew Weil.