Legislation by State Rep. Phillip Ensler (D-Montgomery) adding criminal penalties for swatting was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday.
Swatting is a growing crime nationwide. It involves making a prank call to emergency services to bring a large number of armed police officers or a SWAT team to a particular address. Swatting is dangerous to first responders and the victims. In some cases, it has led to the deaths of innocent victims.
Ensler, the only Jewish member of the House of Representatives, was motivated to file the bill after 200 synagogues nationwide, including his own, were swatted with bomb threats.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-Auburn) Auburn home was also swatted last December.
Swatting can be politically, ideologically or racially motivated. However, many instances have shown no motive whatsoever, making it difficult for responders to separate real threats from fake ones.
House Bill 78 will codify the crime of swatting, which is defined as if a person "knowingly reports, or causes to be reported, false or misleading information regarding a crime or emergency to a law enforcement agency or emergency service provider under circumstances where the false or misleading information is likely to cause a response from a law enforcement agency or an emergency service provider."
The bill passed the House in February with a vote of 99-2-1. On Thursday, the bill sailed through the Senate with unanimous approval.
Ensler took to social media to thank his colleagues for the bill's passage, once again expressing his motivation for pushing the bill through.
"Many thanks to my colleagues in the Alabama senate for unanimously passing my swatting bill to help deter false bomb & active shooter threats," Ensler said. "These instances have increased throughout the state including at my own synagogue that needed to evacuate during sabbath services."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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