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Judi Lynn

(160,545 posts) Mon Feb 1, 2016, 07:58 PM Feb 2016

Congresswoman fighting "swatting" calls gets targeted by 1

Source: Associated Press

Congresswoman fighting "swatting" calls gets targeted by 1

Updated 5:25 pm, Monday, February 1, 2016

BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts congresswoman said she and her family were the victims of a so-called "swatting" attack — the very kind of bogus emergency call she has filed legislation to combat.

U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, a Democrat from Melrose, said she was home Sunday night with her husband and two children at about 10 p.m. when police swarmed her house after responding to what investigators described as a "computer-generated phone call" stating that shots had been fired at the home.

Melrose Police Chief Michael Lyle said police quickly determined it was a false report and that it appeared someone was trying to elicit a police response.

Clark is pushing legislation aimed at cracking down on the practice, called "swatting" because it's designed to provoke a response by police SWAT teams. She said the tactic is often used to harass journalists, academics, domestic violence survivors and celebrities.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/US-Rep-Clark-target-of-so-called-swatting-6799093.php

16 replies

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Highlight:

Congresswoman fighting "swatting" calls gets targeted by 1 (Original Post) Judi Lynn Feb 2016 OP

Good for her (for pushing the legislation.) Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2016 #1

I wonder what something like this incident costs the taxpayers? jalan48 Feb 2016 #2

Don't worry, they'll just take it out of the education budget. Feeling the Bern Feb 2016 #4

I didn't know that. I like it! jalan48 Feb 2016 #5

"Wish I'd thought of that!" forest444 Feb 2016 #3

Fucking A, is this USA or East Germany? JEB Feb 2016 #6

Exactly. SoapBox Feb 2016 #7

It's getting harder to tell all the time. forest444 Feb 2016 #10

This wouldn't be a problem if SWAT teams didn't invade homes fbc Feb 2016 #8

I remember Trump telling his supporters to do this very thing if their neighbors are immigrants. arcane1 Feb 2016 #9

I'm sorry to hear about this. smirkymonkey Feb 2016 #11

This article shows how dangerous and treacherous this practice is. LuckyLib Feb 2016 #12

It is just this sort of shit... gregcrawford Feb 2016 #13

Sounds like something a person planning a crime would do rpannier Feb 2016 #14

Maybe this is a problem caused by militarization of the police Taitertots Feb 2016 #15

Did they at least shoot her dog? n/t MosheFeingold Feb 2016 #16

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)

1. Good for her (for pushing the legislation.)

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 08:00 PM

Feb 2016

Given the militant state of police departments these days, phoning in fake calls like that is akin to attempted murder.

jalan48

(13,870 posts)

2. I wonder what something like this incident costs the taxpayers?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 08:01 PM

Feb 2016

Feeling the Bern

(3,839 posts)

4. Don't worry, they'll just take it out of the education budget.

Reply to jalan48 (Reply #2)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 08:08 PM

Feb 2016

BTW, you know that your name "Jalan" means "street" in Bahasa Malaysia?

jalan48

(13,870 posts)

5. I didn't know that. I like it!

Reply to Feeling the Bern (Reply #4)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 08:15 PM

Feb 2016

forest444

(5,902 posts)

3. "Wish I'd thought of that!"

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 08:06 PM

Feb 2016

JEB

(4,748 posts)

6. Fucking A, is this USA or East Germany?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 08:17 PM

Feb 2016

SoapBox

(18,791 posts)

7. Exactly.

Reply to JEB (Reply #6)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 08:19 PM

Feb 2016

forest444

(5,902 posts)

10. It's getting harder to tell all the time.

Reply to JEB (Reply #6)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 08:28 PM

Feb 2016

fbc

(1,668 posts)

8. This wouldn't be a problem if SWAT teams didn't invade homes

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 08:20 PM

Feb 2016

perhaps I'm just stating the obvious.

arcane1

(38,613 posts)

9. I remember Trump telling his supporters to do this very thing if their neighbors are immigrants.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 08:24 PM

Feb 2016

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)

11. I'm sorry to hear about this.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 10:22 PM

Feb 2016

I am a MA resident and the Congresswoman was a College roommate of mine. She is a great person - very intelligent and a devoted Democrat, despite being from a wealthy family. I am glad to hear that she and her family are ok. She is really an excellent person in every way.

LuckyLib

(6,819 posts)

12. This article shows how dangerous and treacherous this practice is.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 10:35 PM

Feb 2016

There has to be felony level punishment for such terrorism on individuals (and businesses and public places). Anyone who knowingly sets up such an event should receive no mercy from the courts.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/29/magazine/the-serial-swatter.html?_r=0

gregcrawford

(2,382 posts)

13. It is just this sort of shit...

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 10:50 PM

Feb 2016

... that gets people killed, and that is exactly what the callers intend when they tell police that there's a black kid with a gun in a park, or a black man brandishing a rifle in the toy section of a store. The people that make these calls are a virulent disease, and should be treated as such. NO mercy.