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Why California Civil Liberties Advocacy (CCLA) Supports AB 327 (Ta)
Swatting—a dangerous act of falsely reporting emergencies to trigger an armed police response—has escalated into a nationwide crisis, putting lives at risk, straining law enforcement resources, and violating the rights of individuals who are targeted. In response, AB 327, introduced by Assembly Member Ta, seeks to strengthen California’s legal framework against swatting by increasing penalties for repeat offenders and expanding financial liability for damages caused by false emergency reports.
The California Civil Liberties Advocacy (CCLA) supports AB 327 because it provides necessary legal tools to deter this dangerous practice while ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for the harm they cause. This bill strikes a balance between public safety, civil liberties, and responsible law enforcement, addressing a growing threat that affects public officials, activists, and private citizens alike.
Understanding Swatting: A Growing and Dangerous Threat
Swatting is not a harmless prank—it is a targeted form of criminal harassment that weaponizes law enforcement against innocent individuals. The crime involves falsely reporting a critical emergency, such as an active shooter, hostage situation, or bomb threat, to law enforcement, prompting an immediate and often heavily armed police response.
This practice is incredibly dangerous, as SWAT teams and law enforcement responding to perceived threats may use force in high-pressure situations. Swatting has already resulted in serious injuries and deaths across the country, making it imperative for California to take stronger legal action against repeat offenders.
High-Profile Victims of Swatting
Swatting has increasingly been used to target public figures, lawmakers, and activists, often as a means of intimidation or political retaliation. Several recent incidents highlight the severity of this issue:
- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was swatted on Christmas Day 2023, when police were falsely called to her home with a report of a serious emergency (Boston 25 News, Dec. 25, 2023).
- Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows was swatted on December 29, 2023, shortly after her controversial decision to remove Donald Trump from Maine’s ballot (The Guardian, Dec. 31, 2023).
- Five Democratic U.S. Representatives from Connecticut—including Jim Himes, Jahana Hayes, John Larson, Joe Courtney, and Senator Chris Murphy—were targeted with fake bomb threats in November 2024, causing unnecessary fear and disruption (Reuters, Nov. 28, 2024).
- Rhode Island Representative Seth Magaziner faced a similar swatting incident at his home the following day (New York Post, Nov. 29, 2024).
- Transgender activist and streamer Clara Sorrenti (Keffals) was swatted in August 2022, becoming a target of a broader campaign of harassment (Them, Aug. 2022).
- Charlottesville activist Emily Gorcenski was swatted in 2017 following her vocal opposition to white supremacist rallies (Medium, Oct. 2017).
These cases illustrate how swatting is used as a weapon of political intimidation and harassment. It endangers public officials, activists, and their families, while also creating potentially deadly encounters between innocent people and law enforcement.
What AB 327 Does to Combat Swatting
AB 327 strengthens California’s existing laws on false emergency reporting by introducing harsher penalties for repeat offenders and expanding liability to cover property damage caused by emergency responses.
Key Provisions of AB 327:
- Enhanced Penalties for Repeat Offenders
- Currently, making a false emergency report is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
- Under AB 327, a second or subsequent offense would be punishable as either a misdemeanor OR a felony, depending on the circumstances.
- Individuals 18 years or older who repeatedly commit this crime could face felony charges with increased jail time.
- Expansion of Financial Liability
- Existing law allows government agencies to recover the costs of emergency responses caused by false reports.
- AB 327 expands this liability to cover property damage incurred as a result of the emergency response.
- This ensures that victims and local governments do not bear the financial burden of a criminal hoax.
- Focus on Protecting Public Safety
- The bill specifically targets bad-faith actors who engage in swatting as a malicious and dangerous form of harassment.
- It aims to deter repeat offenders while preserving protections for good-faith emergency calls.
Why CCLA Supports AB 327
At California Civil Liberties Advocacy (CCLA), we champion policies that protect civil rights, public safety, and the responsible use of law enforcement resources. AB 327 aligns with these principles for several key reasons.
1. Swatting Violates Civil Liberties
Swatting is not just a crime—it is a severe civil liberties violation. Victims are subjected to:
- Unwarranted police raids
- Armed confrontations at their homes
- Psychological trauma and public humiliation
- Risk of serious injury or death
By increasing penalties for repeat offenders, AB 327 helps ensure that those who weaponize law enforcement are held accountable.
2. It Protects Activists, Lawmakers, and Private Citizens
Many swatting incidents specifically target individuals based on their political beliefs, activism, or public service. The cases of Michelle Wu, Shenna Bellows, and Clara Sorrenti highlight how swatting is being used as a tool of political intimidation.
CCLA strongly supports AB 327 because it creates stronger legal deterrents against using emergency services as a means of harassment.
3. It Prevents Waste of Law Enforcement Resources
Swatting wastes valuable taxpayer-funded emergency resources, diverting law enforcement and first responders from legitimate emergencies. The response to a false emergency call can involve:
- SWAT teams, police officers, and paramedics
- Evacuations of entire neighborhoods or public buildings
- Helicopters, bomb squads, and other expensive resources
By expanding financial liability, AB 327 ensures that the perpetrators of these hoaxes, not taxpayers, bear the financial burden.
4. It Maintains a Balanced Approach
While increasing penalties, AB 327 does not criminalize accidental false reports. Instead, it targets individuals who knowingly file false reports with malicious intent.
This bill protects free speech and civil liberties by ensuring that those who genuinely believe they are witnessing an emergency will not be unfairly punished.
Addressing Potential Concerns
Some critics may worry that harsher penalties could lead to overcriminalization. However, AB 327 is carefully crafted to apply only to repeat offenders and bad-faith actors—those who deliberately abuse the system.
Furthermore, the bill ensures that juvenile offenders are not subject to felony charges, focusing instead on adults who repeatedly commit swatting crimes.
AB 327 is Necessary to Stop Swatting in California
Swatting is a serious crime with deadly consequences. It threatens public safety, civil liberties, and the integrity of our emergency response systems. By enhancing penalties and holding offenders financially accountable, AB 327 provides a strong but fair approach to deterring swatting in California.
The California Civil Liberties Advocacy (CCLA) proudly supports AB 327 and urges lawmakers to pass this bill to protect public officials, activists, and private citizens from the dangers of swatting.
We call on all Californians to stand with us in supporting AB 327 and making California a safer place for everyone.