The rising tide of swatting attacks on conservatives has prompted a stern response from FBI Director Kash Patel and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Both officials have pledged to relentlessly pursue and bring to justice those responsible for these malicious acts. Concurrently, Republican lawmakers are advocating for legislation that would impose harsher penalties for such attacks, with some, including Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, suggesting that these acts should be prosecuted as attempted murder and domestic terrorism.
According to The Blaze, swatting is a malicious practice where false reports are made to law enforcement, often alleging imminent violent criminality or self-harm, with the aim of having an armed emergency response team dispatched to an unsuspecting victim's location. The potential for disastrous outcomes is high, given that the victims, often law-abiding gun owners, are usually caught off guard by the sudden arrival of law enforcement.
The lethal potential of swatting was tragically demonstrated in 2017 when 28-year-old Andrew Finch of Wichita, Kansas, was killed during a swatting incident. Responding to a fabricated hostage threat, law enforcement fatally shot Finch when he answered the door. The instigator of the incident, Tyler Rai Barriss, was subsequently held accountable for Finch's death and several other swatting incidents. Another victim of this dangerous prank was Mark Herring, who suffered a fatal heart attack when police responded to a swatting call at his home in April 2020.
Conservatives and critics of the liberal establishment have been systematically targeted with swatting calls. Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, for instance, has been targeted multiple times, including a December incident that resulted in a fatal accident involving a bomb squad member responding to the call.
In recent weeks, numerous conservative media figures and social media influencers have fallen victim to swatting. Among them are comedian Shawn Farash, right-wing influencer Phillip Buchanan, talk radio host Joe Pagliarulo, and Infowars host Chase Geiser.
"If I would have grabbed my AR-15 and walked out the front door, or my pistol and walked out the front door, I would have been dead in my doorway," said Pagliarulo. "Dead. I mean, think about that. That's a tactic of the left? That's the tactic of those who don't like my politics?"
FBI Director Patel has acknowledged the severity of this dangerous trend and has pledged to take action. "This isn't about politics weaponizing law enforcement against ANY American is not only morally reprehensible but also endangers lives, including those of our officers. That will not be tolerated," Patel stated.
Secretary Noem echoed Patel's sentiments, stating that the DHS will not stand by while conservative new media and their families are targeted by false swatting. "Under President Trump's leadership, we will not sit idly by as conservative new media and their families are being targeted by false swatting," Noem wrote. "@DHSgov has the ability to trace phone numbers and track location information. We will use it to hunt these cowards down."
Lawmakers are also taking the issue seriously. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, has announced an investigation into the recent increase of swatting incidents. Additionally, there is renewed interest in advancing Tennessee Republican Rep. David Kustoff's Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act, which proposes strict penalties for swatting, including a 20-year prison sentence if someone is seriously injured as a result of an attack.
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas), a co-sponsor of the bill, referred to swatting as "an extremely dangerous form of political terrorism," adding, "People need to be in prison for this." The collective response from law enforcement and lawmakers underscores the seriousness of the swatting issue and the commitment to address it head-on.
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