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Teen behind hundreds of swatting attacks pleads guilty to federal charges

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242 points LinuxBender | 2 comments | 18 Nov 24 00:39 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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elzbardico ◴[18 Nov 24 14:55 UTC] No.42172833[source]▶
The militarization of law enforcement and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race.
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valval ◴[18 Nov 24 15:36 UTC] No.42173336[source]▶
Not at all. It’s good that law enforcement have the tools to deal with serious threats. You’re just throwing around a fear word.

The big guns are hidden from sight anyway, and only brought out when need be. We don’t need any Oct 7th type attacks happening on home soil.

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LargeWu ◴[18 Nov 24 15:38 UTC] No.42173365[source]▶
If they can be summoned by just placing an anonymous phone call with an unverified claim, that might be a problem though.
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gruez ◴[18 Nov 24 17:23 UTC] No.42174617[source]▶
What's the alternative? Waiting for New York Times to verify a home invasion has indeed taken place before sending over cops?
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LargeWu ◴[18 Nov 24 22:44 UTC] No.42177915[source]▶
Maybe just sending out a single squad car first to get a credible assessment?
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valval ◴[19 Nov 24 12:29 UTC] No.42182696[source]▶
I'm not sure who aided in constructing this mental representation for you that the number of cops is directly proportional with the scale of conflict that's about to happen.

I'd challenge that view by claiming that if the threat is of someone holding their family hostage threatening to kill them (just a guess at what these "swatters" might say to the dispatcher to get cops to actually kick in some doors, I don't know what their state-of-the-art accusation is), then sending one cop car, poorly equipped, sounds a bit silly for multiple reasons.

replies(1): >>42187406 #
1. LargeWu ◴[19 Nov 24 19:53 UTC] No.42187406[source]▶
Just to be clear, your version of the ideal response to an unverified claim of a hostage situation is to immediately escalate?
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2. whtsthmttrmn ◴[19 Nov 24 20:10 UTC] No.42187580[source]▶
It's because they have to assume it's real. Same reason behind weather warnings. They can't know for sure if it's real, but it's 'better' to assume it's real and respond accordingly only to discover it's a hoax, than it is to assume it's a prank and show up unprepared only to have it be real and they aren't ready to handle it. It's Schrodinger's hostage.