Hey forum, I’m from Brazil but curious about something. If I were in the US, would it be legal to use a remote-controlled turret for home defense?
A turret with only a camera? Yeah, that’s legal. But if it has any kind of weapon or attack function, that’s illegal. Booby traps are banned, even in your own home.
Skyler said:
A turret with only a camera? Yeah, that’s legal. But if it has any kind of weapon or attack function, that’s illegal. Booby traps are banned, even in your own home.
What if it just insults people instead?
Skyler said:
A turret with only a camera? Yeah, that’s legal. But if it has any kind of weapon or attack function, that’s illegal. Booby traps are banned, even in your own home.
If it’s manned and not automated, things get trickier.
Skyler said:
A turret with only a camera? Yeah, that’s legal. But if it has any kind of weapon or attack function, that’s illegal. Booby traps are banned, even in your own home.
Is it still considered a booby trap if it’s remote-controlled?
It might violate several laws across the states, but not sure if it’s a booby trap.
I thought it was an autonomous turret when I first saw this post though.
Skyler said:
A turret with only a camera? Yeah, that’s legal. But if it has any kind of weapon or attack function, that’s illegal. Booby traps are banned, even in your own home.
As long as it’s not attacking random people, it isn’t a booby trap.
If you can justify lethal force in that moment, it’s usually legal. For example, if you’re at home and see someone with a rifle sneaking around your house, you’d be justified to shoot.
Basically, no. Anything like that would be considered a booby trap, which is illegal.
Dean said:
Basically, no. Anything like that would be considered a booby trap, which is illegal.
If you’re home while it’s active and can justify using force in that moment, it should be legal.
A booby trap is illegal because it can attack random people, regardless of whether they’re criminals or not. As long as it’s not shooting random people, you’re good.
If it’s just a camera, then sure. 
But remote-controlled guns? No way, those aren’t legal. In most states, guns that aren’t physically with their owner or an authorized user must be locked in a safe place (like a gun safe). A gun attached to a turret would be too far from its owner to be considered safe. In other states, the laws about booby traps apply.
I have remote PTZ cameras on my house, and my neighbors joke about how they seem to follow them as they walk past. But adding guns to those cameras? Not something I’d try.
Now I’m thinking about a BearSpray turret, something you could control from a panic room. Or maybe even something that shoots paint at someone’s face. Paint could disable someone, even if they’re wearing a mask and goggles.
I looked this up once. Definitely illegal if you’re not home.
Avery said:
I looked this up once. Definitely illegal if you’re not home.
I could explain why it could be legal under some conditions, but not for home defense.
Avery said:
I looked this up once. Definitely illegal if you’re not home.
Even if you’re home, it’s still illegal.
Avery said:
I looked this up once. Definitely illegal if you’re not home.
Even if you’re home, it’s still illegal.
Yeah, probably for the best we don’t let regular people set up machine gun nests inside their homes.
@Marsden
It would be pretty cool though 
Ellis said:
@Marsden
It would be pretty cool though
At first, yeah. But then you realize, people hack things like Ring doorbells just to know when you’re home. Imagine someone hijacking a weapon inside your house.
Pretty sure I saw a dystopian show based on this idea.