Georgia Senate Bill 421, one of many pieces of legislation going into effect July 1, aims to increase punishment for those behind so-called swatting calls in order to deter future harrowing law enforcement false alarms in Georgia.
With new potential to face steeper consequences, Georgia lawmakers intend to counter the increased number of swatting calls seen in recent years.
Swatting is the colloquial name for when a person calls 911 or emergency services and invokes a response from law enforcement – often a SWAT team – by intentionally reporting a fake emergency. High profile people are frequently the target of these incidents. Georgia’s Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been targeted numerous times at her Rome home throughout her political career.
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