REPORT: Griffo pushes legislation he introduced that would hold threateners of mass violence against public places more accountable with stiffer legal ramifications

A state lawmaker, who represents North Country constituents, is advocating for the legislature to pass legislation that would install stiffer legal punishments for those who threaten mass violence upon schools, businesses and places of worship.

Senator Joe Griffo (R-C-I-ROME) is leading the charge for this in the wake of a handful of recent incidents here in Oneida County, including threats made against school districts in Utica and Camden.

"School has only been in session for a few months, and we have seen threats of mass violence made in various schools districts in the region," Sen. Griffo said.

"The individuals making these disturbing threats must know that there are serious repercussions and consequences for their actions. This bill will ensure that those responsible for these threats, which cause widespread fear and disruption and come at significant cost to the communities in which they occur, are punished accordingly."

His bill, first introduced in 2018, would make it a crime to threaten any sort of mass violence towards any school campus, place of worship, mass gatherings with more than 25-people and businesses.

Ramifications include a felony charge, a $35,000 fine and possible prison time (no less than three-years) to those convicted over the age of 18.

The fine remains the same for offenders under 18, but would involve a 10-day visit to a juvenile detention facility.

The bills are currently in the Senate's and Assembly's Codes committees. 

Image courtesy via the office of New York State Senator Joe Griffo.