Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15) introduced the Swatting Registry Best Practices Act, bipartisan legislation to help State, Tribal, territorial, and local governments reduce the risk of deadly swatting incidents through voluntary, privacy-protective tools and stronger emergency response protocols.

Swatting is a serious public safety threat. Former FBI Special Agent Kevin Kolbye estimated that swatting incidents increased from approximately 400 cases in 2011 to more than 1,000 in 2019. However, inconsistent reporting and classification across law enforcement agencies make it difficult to determine the full scope of the problem.

Swatting is the deliberate act of making a false report of a violent emergency—such as an active shooter, hostage situation, bomb threat, or murder—to trigger an armed law enforcement response to an unsuspecting person’s home or workplace. These hoaxes put innocent families and first responders at risk, divert emergency resources from real crises, and can quickly turn deadly. According to NBC News, law enforcement agencies have estimated that a swatting incident can cost several thousand dollars and potentially $10,000 or more, even before follow-up expenses such as investigations, property repairs, and counseling.

"Swatting weaponizes our emergency response system against innocent people," said Congressman Walkinshaw. "A single false call can send heavily armed officers to a family's front door, putting lives at risk in a matter of minutes. My bill gives communities practical tools to help prevent these dangerous hoaxes while protecting privacy and civil liberties."

“Swatting is a dangerous crime that puts innocent families, law enforcement officers, and entire communities at unnecessary risk,” said Congresswoman Lee. “When emergency responders are dispatched to a fabricated crisis, critical resources are diverted from people facing real emergencies, and a split-second decision can have tragic consequences. The Swatting Registry Best Practices Act provides law enforcement with voluntary, commonsense guidance to help identify potential swatting incidents while protecting privacy and civil liberties. I am proud to join Congressman Walkinshaw in advancing this bipartisan legislation to better protect both the public and the first responders who put their lives on the line every day.” 

The Swatting Registry Best Practices Act directs the Department of Justice, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, to develop national best practices for jurisdictions that choose to establish voluntary swatting registries or integrate swatting verification into existing 911 and dispatch operations. The bill also authorizes technical assistance for agencies seeking to implement these practices. 

 Read the full bill text here.

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