State Rep Seeks Stiffer Penalties in School 'Swatting' Incidents

In the wake of a series of ‘swatting incidents’ involving threats made to several Connecticut schools, including two in Stamford, a Stamford state representative is proposing legislation to increase the penalties for those convicted of making the threats.

Rep. William Tong (D-Stamford, Darien), House chairman of the Judiciary Committee, unveiled the bill that would make increase the penalty for those convicted of making threats to a preschool, K-12 school or an institution of higher education to 10 years in prison. Currently, the penalty is five years.

Tong made his proposal in Hartford on Thursday with state Sen. Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield), other legislators and advocates.

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The legislation, Zero-Tolerance Safe School Environment Act is similar to legislation championed last year by Hwang.

A bomb threat was made to Stamford High School on Feb. 9, followed by a similar threat to Stamford Academy on Feb. 10, as well as four other schools in West Haven, Hartford and Bristol. Stamford Mayor David Martin has called for stiffer penalties for those charged with making the threats that prompt massive police and emergency personnel responses.

“There should be zero tolerance for this kind of behavior, and we have to do everything we can to try to prevent it,” Tong said. “This legislation should send a crystal clear message – if you threaten our schools and our kids and our teachers, we are going to come down hard on you,” Tong said in a statement.

“These threats of violence against schools highlight the need to get tougher,” said Hwang, a co-sponsor of Tong’s legislation. “The devastating impact to the psyches of parents, educators and children in a school environment is absolutely, positively unacceptable. If someone does commit such a despicable act, they should face severe penalties that bring the punishment more in line with the crime. The threats in Connecticut and around the country reinforce the need to strengthen our laws in this area.”

Contributed photo: Stamford state Rep. William Tong with state Sen. Tony Hwang.