Congressman David Kustoff has brought attention to the issue of swatting through an op-ed in the Washington Examiner. In his piece titled “Swatting: A frightening hoax demanding serious attention,” Kustoff emphasizes the dangers posed by this phenomenon and discusses his legislative efforts to combat it.
“As a former United States Attorney, I have seen firsthand the chaos swatting creates, the danger it presents to everyone involved, and the fear it instills in families and communities,” said Congressman Kustoff. He announced the introduction of the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act of 2025 in the House of Representatives. This legislation aims to impose severe penalties for swatting, including up to a 20-year federal prison sentence if an incident leads to serious injury.
The Department of Homeland Security defines swatting as “making malicious hoax calls to emergency services to falsely report an ongoing emergency such as a violent crime or explosive device at a certain location.” This tactic forces a large-scale law enforcement response and has become a national crisis demanding attention from various sectors.
Recent years have seen a significant rise in swatting incidents, with a 546% increase in false active shooter calls during the 2022-2023 school year compared to four years earlier. K-12 schools were particularly affected, with 723 swatting hoaxes targeting them in 2023 alone.
Swatting also impacts businesses and political figures, creating disruptions across industries. Kustoff cited an incident involving one of his constituents who was awakened by police in the middle of the night due to a false report of a hostage situation. Authorities quickly determined it was a hoax.
Such incidents strain law enforcement resources and divert attention from real emergencies, with each swatting event potentially costing between $10,000 and $25,000. The emotional toll on individuals and communities can be severe, with some cases even resulting in fatalities.
Kustoff argues for the urgent need for legal measures to address swatting. “Implementing strict penalties will send a clear message that intentionally deceiving law enforcement will not be tolerated.” He calls on Congress to support the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act, aiming to hold offenders accountable and prevent future incidents.
