Police soon be using drones with guns to chase criminals in the US

New bill to allow officers to use drones with deadly weapons is currently being considered in Connecticut.

When it becomes a law, the US state would become the first in the country to allow police to use weaponized drones. The legislation, which was approved overwhelmingly by the state legislature’s judiciary committee, would ban drones with weapons except for those agencies involved in law enforcement.

The Police Officer Standards and Training Council would have to approve new rules and train officers before they could use weaponized drones.

This bill was first proposed as a complete ban on weaponized drones but, on Wednesday, just before the committee vote, it was amended to exclude police from the restriction.

However, the bill has been met with criticism from civil rights activists who say the drones could lead to excessive force and could set a dangerous precedent.

They are now lobbying to restore the bill to its original language before the House of Representatives votes on it. If Connecticut’s Democratic-controlled House passes the bill it will then move to the Senate, which is split evenly between Democrats and Republicans.

Connecticut NAACP President Scot Esdaile openly opposed the bill and said he worries police will misuse drones.

In 2015, North Dakota became the first state to allow police to use drones armed with tear gas and pepper spray, but not with lethal weapons.