Swatting has been around for some time now and it is being done more often as it is reported more in the media. Before I go any further here is a good definition from Wikipedia on Swatting, “is the act of tricking an emergency service (via such means as hoaxing a 9-1-1 dispatcher) into dispatching an emergency response based on the false report of an ongoing critical incident.”

The act of Swatting is occurring far too often in New Jersey and has even happened to a member of the legislature. Assemblyman Paul Moriarty was Swatted by someone opposed to the upgrading of the penalties for Swatting that he introduced in a bill A3877, November 2014,  that would increase penalties for “false public alarm,” which would upgrade it from a crime of the third degree to the second degree. This would mandate a five to ten year prison sentence and a fine of up to $150,000.

Somehow our children think that it is a very fun thing to do and are calling in these incidents more often than in the past. It might be for some a call for attention from their peers or maybe even to make their parent(s) be more attentive to them. Whatever the reason it is a very dangerous thing to do. It takes the police away from their patrolling our neighborhoods and someone sooner than later is going to get hurt. Then the person or persons who call in the false report will have not only violated the trust that has been placed in them by the public, but will also have become like the little boy who cried wolf once too many times. No one will believe what him or her says anymore and they will never be trusted again!

One thing that everyone might not realize is that not only does it take the authorities away from their normal chores, but it costs us the public money directly. Both the taxpayer and the owners of businesses suffer when swatting happens in a public place, like a store or supermarket. Even if it happens on a public street, it does and will affect the businesses that are nearby to the incident.

Public peer pressure must be brought to bear on those who think it is funny or want to use Swatting as an attention getting stunt. If you are one of those who think that it is a very funny thing to do please read this article, Horror at the game shop. It certainly was not funny to them and to the police.

So the next time you or someone you know even thinks about Swatting, try to stop them before they do it!

That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike