New Bill, Make SWATting Criminal Offense

[cad68m_m]

http://constitution.com/new-bill-could-reign-in-gun-control-zealots-make-swatting-criminal-offense/

 

[Inigoes]

About time!

If the police won't press charges, the swatting victim can

 

[Boom Boom]

About time. Looks good. Bipartisan bill. Hopefully passes and is veto proof. I can see Obumble not wanting to sign it.

 

[J1911]

Wasn't filing a false report already illegal?... and wouldn't a bogus 911 call count like pulling a fire alarm or a bomb threat call?

 

[Boom Boom]

Wasn't filing a false report already illegal?... and wouldn't a bogus 911 call count like pulling a fire alarm or a bomb threat call?

Yes and no. Current penalties are relatively minor compared to those called out in the bill. This bill is necessary now that activist organizations are advocating false calls and openly hope for related injuries and deaths.

 

[StantonCree]

Ehhhhh 99% of states already have laws against false reporting to 911.....we just need actually enforce them. DC NEVER charges anyone with is.....it's sad.

 

[Blacksmith101]

What happens when the police SWAT the wrong house? Should be some more consequences than "Oops Sorry".

 

[Tungsten]

I've always thought swatting should be classified as attempted murder.

 

[pbharvey]

I hear a lot of bogus calls on the scanner. Either the callers are a little nuts or they are trying to get the cops away from their area so they can do their drug deals. Early this morning I heard the same abduction call for the third time.
Laws should be laws though, if we have them - enforce them.

 

[Half-cocked]

I've always thought swatting should be classified as attempted murder.

Two counts of attempted murder - because you're not just trying to get the victim killed, you are trying to put a cop in a situation where he could get killed, too.

 

[gamer_jim]

Yes and no. Current penalties are relatively minor compared to those called out in the bill. This bill is necessary now that activist organizations are advocating false calls and openly hope for related injuries and deaths.

I wonder what civil legal suit could be brought against someone who swatted.

I don't care if someone goes to jail, but give me their assets, file a judgement and own most of their paycheck for the next few years.

 

[Vile Shadow]

Wasn't filing a false report already illegal?... and wouldn't a bogus 911 call count like pulling a fire alarm or a bomb threat call?

Penalties should be far harsher for doing so knowingly.

I've always thought swatting should be classified as attempted murder.

Yup, since that's pretty much the point of doin' it.

 

[slowpoke]

DOJ should investigate it as a civil rights violation at a minimum.

What am I saying? Never mind...

 

[Threeband]

Won't fight past the pop-ups.

I'll believe it when the law actually is passed.

 

[K31]

Someone needs to start a civil action after being "SWAT"ed. Waiting for a prosecutor to enforce a law like this is going to be a long wait.

 

[K31]

Won't fight past the pop-ups.
.

Firefox, Noscript, Adblock Plus.

 

[Inigoes]

Ehhhhh 99% of states already have laws against false reporting to 911.....we just need actually enforce them. DC NEVER charges anyone with is.....it's sad.

Because the responding LEOs will not out the caller/tipster, to where the swatting victim can press charges.

 

[cad68m_m]

Interstate Swatting Hoax Act

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr4057/text

Text of Bill Submitted by Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA)
Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA)