Georgia State Capitol Building, state house, interior, chamber of the State House of Representatives. (Walter Bibikow via Getty Images)
The bill would also make a first offense a felony if it were aimed at a dwelling or a place of worship. The measure also increases the felony penalty for second offenses, making the minimum prison sentence five years, instead of one year. It also adds stronger penalties for a third offense, requiring a sentence of 10 to 15 years.
The measure also requires that a someone convicted make up for any monetary losses by property owners or expenditures by a responding agency, including restitution for property damages or the cost of treating injuries.
"Those folks will be behind bars that are doing the swatting," said state Rep. Matt Reeves, a Republican from Duluth.
Georgia is the latest state to consider stricter swatting penalties. Ohio last year made it a felony offense to report a false emergency that prompts response by law enforcement. And Virginia increased the penalties for swatting to up to 12 months in jail.
Some swatting injuries have led to police shooting people, and officials say they also worry about diverting resources from real emergencies.
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The Georgia law would also define a drive-by shooting as a separate crime. Supporters say it's needed because some shooters have escaped criminal penalties because current law is not precisely defined. The new crime would require a sentence of five to 20 years for shooting into an occupied dwelling or motor vehicle. It would also make it a crime that qualifies as a racketeering offense under Georgia's anti-racketeering law.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/georgia-house-approves-swatting-crackdown-attacks-lt-gov-rep-greene