Op-Ed: Enact Law to Keep Drones Out of Horsham

By Andrew Starr

Today I rise in public opposition to the installation of a drone command center at the Horsham Air Guard Station. Although it is a matter that could be deemed out of our control, we all need to be aware of what is happening in our own backyard and the implications.

The news of the command center has brought about strong opinions from many residents for and against. Those who welcome the command center are happy to see the needed jobs it will create. Those that oppose the command center fear for their privacy and ultimately their liberty.

Drones are now the weapon of choice in the expanding an egregious war on terror. According to Senator Lindsey Graham, drones have killed over 4,700 people including women and children, creating an increase in negative sentiments directed at the U.S. The drone strikes have even drawn criticism from the UN declaring that we are violating the sovereignty of Pakistan with these attacks. Today, the administration has elected to exempt strikes on Pakistan from the Drones Codification Report, allowing for unanswerable attacks in Pakistan.

The now famous filibuster orchestrated in the Senate by Rand Paul to force an answer as to whether the federal government can use a drone to track and kill Americans on American soil was finally resolved the following day with a “no” even though the questions was asked three months earlier. I for one can tell you I am not convinced.

Unfortunately, drones have already targeted and killed two Americans abroad. I am not saying that actions of these two would not merit death, but that should only happen after they were tried and convicted of the crime that merited the punishment and certainly not from the decision of one person who deemed them a terrorist. Today the definition of terrorists has been watered down and is used for even the most mundane of offenses such as yelling obscenities being called “terroristic threats.”

I’m sure you might be questioning why this should matter here in Horsham if the drones are being used overseas. Well that simply is not the case. The FAA predicts that in five years there will be over 10,000 drones flying in the U.S. with the possibility of 30,000 by 2020. As equally bad, some Senators openly state that the battle field for the war on terror is now on our soil.

This does not take into account the use of drones by local police departments, the crashing of drones in residential neighborhoods in America, the near misses with commercial jet liners and other factors.

Considering the above, along with the technique of incrementalism which government has used to slowly erode our freedoms, and we could one day see drones used in America against Americans. Whether it’s for spying or something more malicious, it is unacceptable in a free society and needs to be stopped.

We can do our part by enacting local legislation that would limit or exempt the flying of drones in Horsham Township. 

Editor's note: Horsham resident Andrew Starr read this letter during this week's Horsham Township Council meeting and provided the governing body with a copy of it, as well as a sample ordinance, which is attached here as a PDF.