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Lawmakers in Connecticut this week considering a bill that would make the state the first in the country to allow police to use drones equipped with deadly weapons.
The legislation, which was approved overwhelmingly by the state legislature's judiciary committee, would ban weaponized drones but it exempts agencies involved in law enforcement.
Civil rights activists crying foul, saying such drones could lead to excessive force. The leader of Connecticut's ACLU saying it would set a dangerous precedent.
The 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.
Civil rights advocates 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.
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.