REPORT: North Country state lawmakers continue push for more stringent penalties against those threatening mass violence

ONEIDA COUNTY- Lawmakers and officials are continuing the movement for action against those threatening mass violence.

In the last few weeks, over 50 school districts have received threats, including bombs and active shooters, according to the office of New York State Senator Joe Griffo. "We believe that there should be stiffer repercussions and consequences for individuals threatening mass violence at our schools, places of worship and other places where a large number of people may gather, Griffo stressed.

He and Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-Marcy) and Assemblyman Brian Miller, (R-C-New Hartford), gathered recently with Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr., Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol and area school officials to push for this measure.

Although these threats have resulted in no follow through action, officials say it causes widespread fear and disruption for education and other institutions.

This proposed measure would amend the penal law and establish a new crime of making a threat of mass violence toward a school, college or university, place of worship, mass gathering of 25 people or more or a business. 

More specifically, the legislation creates two crimes:  

• Making a threat of mass violence in the first degree would be considered a class D felony and would apply to anyone 18 years of age or older. The punishment for this crime would be a $35,000 fine and a sentence of no less than three years in prison.    
• Making a threat of mass violence in the second degree apply to individuals under the age of 18 and carry a fine of $35,000 and a mandatory sentence of 10 days in a juvenile detention facility, or, for those over the age of 18, 100 days in a specialized secure detention facility.

"This legislation was introduced to respond to the threats of harm we are witnessing against our children, family members, and residents," Assemblywoman Buttenschon said. "It is unacceptable to state that you are going to harm others that have come together for any purpose.  If you make a threat, you will be held accountable. " 

"In recent weeks, schools in the local area and across New York State have seen an uptick in swatting incidents. Not only do these false reports cause fear and disruption to children, parents, teachers, and the school communities as a whole, but they potentially place them in harm's way while also placing an unnecessary burden on our law enforcement officers who are already stretched thin," said Assemblyman Brian Miller. "Advancements in technology have made it easier for perpetrators to conceal their identity and more difficult for law enforcement to track them down. Schools are just one example of places of mass gatherings that have been impacted as of late. It is time to hold those responsible for these threats accountable for their inexcusable actions." 

"I strongly support this legislation that is being sponsored by Senator Griffo and Assemblywoman Buttenschon," said Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara.  "As we have seen in our community recently, these 'swatting incidents' are very disturbing to the schools, students and the parents.  If passed this law would greatly enhance our ability to successfully prosecute the individuals who are perpetrating these troubling false reports." 

"With two weeks of back-to-back false threats of violence at schools throughout New York State, we must ensure that there are stiff and significant penalties upon those responsible for them," Oneida County Sheriff Maciol said. "Not only are we diverting massive amounts of police resources to these fake calls, but we are also placing an incredible amount of fear upon our children, our parents, and our teachers – all of which greatly and negatively affects their mental health."

Image: New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-C-Rome, center, was joined by Oneida County Sherrif Robert Maciol, state Assemblyman Brian Miller, R-C-New Hartford, state Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, D-Marcy, and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. for a news conference this morning at Marcy Elementary School. The officials continued their push for more stringent penalties for those who threaten mass violence against schools and other locations.