Ashcroft talks about swatting incident and the need to combat the practice

Efforts to combat swatting are getting more attention in Missouri following a swatting incident against Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and his family on January 7th. 

A bill filed in the Missouri Senate would add “private residence” to places where a person could be charged for making terroristic threats. 

Ashcroft told Newstalk KZRG, there’s been an uptick in swatting incidents across the country:
“We’re seeing it being done against political opponents. We’re seeing it happen to both sides of the political spectrum if you will. It is wrong when it happens to anyone.” 

Swatting is when someone contacts law enforcement and falsely claims a crime is being committed at a specific address. 

The bill sponsored by Senate President Pro-tem Caleb Rowden would also make it a Class D felony if a swatting call results in death, injury, or property damage.