| TRENTON, N.J. – Are they a Chinese surveillance operation, or part of a secret program in the U.S. military? Whatever they are and wherever they are from, the SUV-sized drones invading New Jersey’s airspace nearly every night for weeks now need to be dealt with, Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Paul Kanitra say.
“Shoot them down already!” McGuckin (R-Ocean) said.
The first reported drone sightings happened Nov. 13 in Morris and Hunterdon counties. Since then, reports have flooded in from all over the state as well as Philadelphia and Staten Island.
“This is like the Chinese balloon all over again. How long are we going to wait while unknown actors perform reconnaissance over our critical infrastructure facilities and neighborhoods?” McGuckin said. “If it was anyone with a legitimate purpose they certainly would have come forward by now.”
According to news reports, the FBI along with the New Jersey State Police and the state’s Office of Homeland Security have been investigating the sightings. If they have any leads, they aren’t publicly sharing.
At least 50 drones were witnessed coming in from the ocean onto land by Congressman Chris Smith and Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy at Island Beach State Park on Monday.
Gov. Phil Murphy has said the source of the drones remains unknown but they seem to pose no threat to the public. McGuckin and Kanitra questioned how the governor could conclude that, not knowing who is operating the drones and for what purpose.
“The silence of our state and federal government is deafening and their failure to provide an explanation or solution is inexcusable,” Kanitra (R-Ocean) said. “That federal and state officials aren’t treating this with more urgency is insane.” |
