Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has introduced legislation alongside Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) known as the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act. This bill increases the criminal penalties for swatting by expanding the federal criminal hoax statute to specifically prohibit “swatting” hoaxes.
"Swatting," as it is known, is the act of making a fraudulent police call to a victim's address in order to terrorize the occupants. Sens. Scott and Tuberville were victims of swatting in December 2023. He subsequently filed a bill of the same name but it did not make it out of committee.
Sen. Scott called those who engage purposely order swat teams to innocent households "cowards" that put people in danger.
“The cowards behind ‘swatting’ calls intentionally waste the time and resources of law enforcement and put people in danger in an attempt to inflict fear in communities and terrorize their targets," said Sen. Scott. "It’s absolutely despicable and those responsible must face real consequences for their actions. Swatters have attempted attacks on my family’s home, the homes of public officials, Trump administration nominees, and so many others—it has to stop."
Scott concluded by saying his bill should limit swatting attempts nationwide.
"That’s why I introduced the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act to crack down on these attempts. I’m proud to lead this important bill in the Senate again and look forward to its passage," Scott said.
Furthermore, Sen. Tuberville added that this issue is worthy of the Senate's attention.
“Swatting is a serious problem that must be addressed. My home was swatted twice around Christmas last year in a dangerous attempt to intimidate my family and me. Our brave men and women in blue shouldn’t have to use valuable time and resources answering hoax calls when they could be protecting communities and getting criminals off the street. I’m proud to join Senator Scott in standing up to these criminal hoaxers, making our communities safer, and keeping our law enforcement officers out of harmful situations," said Tuberville.
With a GOP-controlled House and Senate, perhaps the Republican-led bill will make it to President-elect Donald Trump's desk in the Oval Office.
