Swatting occurs when there is a false report about a gun or a gunfire, or a harm/threat to someone or something. There have been many incidents were there’s a false report, then SWAT comes to terrify everyone. When there is a false report, SWAT doesn’t know, so they come in aggressively, and create more harm than safety. Some people have ended up dead or dangerously injured from these SWAT/police officers, when there was no real danger in the first place.
There have been studies saying that Swatting increases the likelihood of harm, when their job is supposed to protect us and help us feel safe. But are they actually doing what they’re meant to do?
With SWAT’s aggression, they board up exits, so people can’t get out of the situation, causing way more harm and chaos than safety, especially in false situations. Which is the opposite of what they’re supposed to do.
With Nikki Halley, she has stated that SWAT has come into her house before and has put a lot of harm on her and her neighbors. She’s opened up the details on the swatting incident that happened to her, in her home in south Carolina, and has stated “this wasn’t the first time it has happened.” Nikki says that she and her husband were not there when SWAT showed up, but her elderly parents were there. SWAT could have done way more harm to her parents, especially because they were elderly.
Nikki states that “I will tell you that the last thing you want is to see multiple law enforcement officials with guns drawn, pointing at my parents, and thinking something happened.” then she stated “It wasn’t the first time it happened.” which in these types of situations, especially with Nikki’s, it could be extremely scary.
These same situations have happened to thousands of people, that didn’t get the chance to share their story about these scary encounters with the law informant
In other incidents, Swatting has led to deaths. One of them, in Wichita Kansans, Andrew Finch had a false alarm of a man shooting and killing his family members while holding them hostage. SWAT was outside his house, so when he opened the door, and walked out, he was shot to death with a sniper. This is one of the many stories that have shown us that swatting can turn fatal. Which in a real scenario could require a SWAT team, but in false cases have the same outcome.
Officials have been swatting on their highest levels earlier this month, SWAT was called to the white house due to a false report of a fire. President Biden wasn’t present in the white house, as he was currently at Camp David. While he was there, local elections were getting threats from people who don’t trust the vote counting system.
In Arizona a republican man has been suspected of threats after the 2020 election results. He’s decided that he will not seek reelection.
There are violent threats where SWAT is required, and is there to keep people safe. Such as the incident on January 6th, 2021, where SWAT was needed to protect the people in office. That was the day when an angry mob of pro-trump people stormed the capitol, threatening to kill people in office, and stop the election certification. In these situations we need SWAT, but their aggression killed people that day.
The SWAT has killed people or almost killed people for false reports in the past. So how can we fix this?
