California – A recent 911 call to the Claremont Police Department caused panic across Claremont McKenna College, triggering a massive response from law enforcement and SWAT teams. The call reported a bomb threat and an active shooter on campus, prompting students to hide in fear. However, it turned out to be a hoax, a “swatting” attempt—one of several that have disrupted communities across the country.
This incident came just one day after a similar threat led to a lockdown at Loma Linda University’s Children’s Hospital. Swatting, a growing problem across the state, involves making false 911 calls to generate a heavy law enforcement response, often causing chaos and panic. California’s current laws, however, make it difficult to hold perpetrators accountable for the disruption they cause, particularly when threats are made against institutions rather than individuals.
State Senator Susan Rubio, who is spearheading Senate Bill 19 (the Safe Schools and Places of Worship Act), is pushing for tougher penalties for those who make hoax threats against places like schools, hospitals, and religious institutions. Rubio’s bill would close a legal loophole, allowing authorities to charge individuals who threaten mass violence even if they don’t name a specific person…