Swatting is a horrible, horrible thing. It puts people’s lives in extreme danger, and it almost always seems to be done with the intent of causing harm to people on the other political side. This seems to happen mostly to Conservatives, but, not always. Angela Belicamino, known as a BOLD LIB on Twitter, was swatted in 2018. And, really, as she also tweeted “Swatting = attempted murder.” It is
Right now, it is primarily Conservatives being swatted, because they support Trump and Elon. But, I remember when a bunch of Conservatives were being swatted for going against Brett Kimberlin (a big deep issue). People like Aaron Walker and Patterico were swatted over this. Erik Erickson and Steve Bannon have been swatted. Many on Trump’s transition team were swatted. And now, for instance
Well, I just got swatted.
About 10 police and swat team showed up.
They said the caller said there were 2 masked men and people inside had been shot.
This shit needs to stop. pic.twitter.com/HpsUBlN6YZ
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) March 18, 2025
So, how does CNN cover this?
Larry Taunton was in bed around 1 a.m. on Sunday in his Alabama home when he noticed his dog, Ranger, getting worked up.
“His ears were up and moving like satellite dishes,” Taunton told CNN in an interview.
He noticed a flicker of light, and then the German Shepherd headed toward the front door. Taunton grabbed his gun and followed, leaving the lights off. When he got to the kitchen, all he could see in the darkness was a figure in body armor holding a semi-automatic rifle trying to open his door.
“I’m thinking, if that man comes through my door, I’m going to light him up,” Taunton said. “Because you’re just thinking, ‘Somebody’s here to murder me and my wife.’”
It turned out to be three officers, guns drawn. Police told Taunton that they received a call saying three men in hoodies were “moving throughout the house, executing everybody.”
He had been swatted.
Is it just me or does that seem rather antiseptic? Minimized? Emotionless? Can you imagine if these were Democrats getting swatted, how that story would be written?
Almost all the influencers who have publicized their recent swattings are conservative supporters of President Donald Trump. Many have also interacted with top Trump adviser and donor Elon Musk on X over the years, with Musk either replying to them or reposting their X posts. The swattings are happening as Tesla owners and dealerships are experiencing a wave of vandalism in backlash against the company’s billionaire CEO, and his Department of Government Efficiency.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security say they’re investigating this latest rash of swattings, which these influencers say could easily turn deadly.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we will not sit idly by as conservative new media and their families are being targeted by false swatting,” Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem wrote on X on Wednesday. “@DHSgov has the ability to trace phone numbers and track location information. We will use it to hunt these cowards down. This is an attack on our law enforcement and innocent families and we will prosecute it as such.”
I’m not sure why police departments aren’t taking more measures when these calls come in. They should know who it is for real before sending a swat team. It should be verified. Heck, a couple months ago I called the Raleigh PD about a fire underneath the 540 bridge at Capital Blvd, they had my phone number, asked my name and address, and seemed to verify me quickly before listening. Sure, nothing is perfect over the phone, but, a swatting is more serious.
Swatting is a form of harassment that’s considered a crime at the federal and state levels.
And it can be deadly. In 2017, police killed Andrew Finch after a group of online gamers — who were later imprisoned — called 911 to report that a man had shot his father in the head and was holding his mother and brother at gunpoint, while threatening to set their home on fire.
Finch was shot by police when he dropped his hands as officers told him to raise his arms when he came out of the house, according to the US attorney.
This is a dangerous practice, and there needs to be harsh penalties. And it doesn’t just affect those being swatted
The responding officers have in some cases been impacted, too. Derham said she and her husband have been in touch with the first officer who responded to the swatting call targeting their home. He has been “very affected,” by the incident she said, considering he could have unintentionally harmed her, or her children, had the night gone differently.
They get sent on fake calls which can go very, very wrong.
On Christmas Day 2023, prosecutor Jack Smith and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu were swatted.
7 Jan 2024, Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan (overseeing one of Trump’s many cases) was swatted.
11 Jan 2024, Judge Arthur Engoron (overseeing Trump NY civil case) was swatted.
George Soros was swatted in Dec 2023.
And yes, multiple GOP members have been swatted.
The swatter in the Finch case received 20 years. Officer Rapp, who shot Mr Finch, was not charged, even though Mr Finch was unarmed.
It should all be stopped.
Mr Teach typed: Is it just me or does that seem rather antiseptic? Minimized? Emotionless?
How should it have been reported? Like a True Crime magazine story?
Taunton, sweat dripping from his brow, was worried the men outside would tie him up and brutalize his wife in front of him. He knew radical libs had been after him for his beliefs and would stop at nothing to silence him. For years, Larry and mocked and debated atheists, and knew the Satanists were out to get him and his family. Ranger, his trained German Shephard was ready to attack. Taunton fingered his 9 mm Glock nervously, priding himself on his hours at the range. He checked his 13 round magazine. In his left hand was his back up Glock. Lauri, the love of his life, tiny but strong, had her Beretta 1301 at the ready, in case they got past Larry and Ranger. Magically, they had met at the local gun range decades ago, both training for just this moment! He was immediately attracted to her taut body and low cut top. And of course her love of Christ. He smiled as she stood by the bedroom door, her tactical shotgun held in front of her like a mama bear, if mama bears used shotguns. Larry had resigned a few years ago from his lucrative leadership role his Christian ministry, The Fixed Point Foundation, after admitting to inappropriate sexual relationships with tow young staff there. But they were females so no big deal. In his resignation letter, Larry said “I am, to put it bluntly, spent. As many of you know, I have maintained a manic pace for several years now.” (Sure, satisfying TWO young girls while hiding it from your loyal wife is exhausting!) But Lauri forgave him, a symbol of the grace of God. His reverie was interrupted by a knock on the door! “Montgomery police!” Just what an atheist mother-raper would say, he thought. “We’re armed and have a dog and a wife and I’m not afraid to use them!!”, he shouted. The threatening voice on the other side, asked, “This is officer Petrie, are you guys OK in there?”. Larry, letting his guard down saw the badges on the assailants. “Yes, we’re OK. What’s going on?” The officer replied, “We had a call of a shooting at this address”. It was then that Larry heard the sound of Lauri behind him racking a shell into the chamber… Oh shit he thought.
Matt Van Swol, who had been reporting on FEMA’s inaction in western Carolina under the Biden Administration, and the radical change to aggressive action once the Miracle Worker from Mar-a-Lago took office, was SWATted a couple of days ago. Mr Van Swol, who has said that he used to be a Democrat, is now firmly in the Republican camp after seeing what the glacially slow bureaucracy under the dotard from Delaware was like.