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August 28, 2025
Minneapolis Tragedy Underscores Appalling Nature of ‘Active Shooter’ Hoaxes
The senseless and horrific murders by a mentally-deranged individual at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, defy comprehension. The murderer targeted innocent children celebrating a Catholic mass during the first week of their school year. Families, a community and a nation are shaken by these unthinkable crimes. NSSF sends our sincere condolences to all those affected by this unjustified act of utter cruelty.
The firearm industry applauds the quick response by Minneapolis police to intervene. Their unflinching response undoubtedly saved lives. The investigation into this unspeakable tragedy will reveal the necessary facts to provide some answers. However, these crimes against the most innocent of our society in a place of worship are unfathomable.
We join those who call for a thorough investigation, revelation of the facts and comprehensive review of practical solutions to protect schools and houses of worship. No child, parent or any community member should be fearful of a mentally-unstable individual in the places where they should be the safest.
The heartbreaking murders in Minneapolis that drew a swift, significant police and emergency services response came just days after a series of hoax “active shooter” alerts. Several universities, in a matter of just days, pushed out “active shooter” and “shelter-in-place” alerts to students and faculty. The unspeakable events in Minneapolis underscore the depraved nature of those who call a hoax emergency.
If it’s intended as a joke, it’s a sick, twisted and dangerous one. If it’s social media trend, it is disgraceful in the extreme and it needs to stop immediately.
The safety of our children and communities isn’t a punchline or a way to gain social media followers. Falsely calling in a murderous rampage, when none exists, is a crime. It needs to be investigated and treated as such. Community safety is non-negotiable. The firearm industry is invested in Real Solutions. Safer Communities® to ensure firearms remain beyond the reach of those who cannot be trusted to possess them. Malevolent actors who spread horror by preying on the worst fears must be investigated, and if evidence supports it, charged with the crime that it is.
‘Swatting’
“Swatting,” or knowingly calling in to report a hoax emergency to draw in a large law enforcement response, isn’t a new phenomenon. However, the recent events surrounding the back-to-school hoax calls are an emerging and alarming trend. Several colleges and universities had hoax “active shooter” calls in a just matter of days, including at recently as Tuesday. The spate included incidents at the University of Arkansas, the University of New Hampshire, the University of South Carolina, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Iowa State University, Northern Arizona University, Kansas State University, Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Villanova University – not once, but twice – and the University of West Virginia.
Police, in each of the incidents, reported that these alerts were hoaxes and are under investigation. Alarmingly, this recent sequence isn’t new. CNN reported that one researcher documented 731 calls to schools and universities in 2023. That report added that the Educator’s School Safety Network, a nonprofit dedicated to school safety, logged “446 false reports of active shooters at schools.”
USA Today’s report on the hoaxes has much higher figures, noting that in 2019 there were over 1,000 hoax “swatting” calls, up from an estimated 400 in 2011, sourcing their information to the Anti-Defamation League. Then from January 2023 through June of 2024, over 800 “swatting” hoaxes were recorded at schools, with that information coming from K-12 School Shootings Database.
CNN’s report added that Keven Hendricks, a law enforcement veteran who teaches courses on “swatting” for the National White Collar Crime Center, said hoaxers follow a “script,” calling non-emergency numbers.
The difficulty for law enforcement – and communities – is that time matters and seconds count. Tragedies at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, show that hesitation can cost innocent lives. Police must act each and every time. These hoaxers know this.
The prank calls also draw essential law enforcement and life-saving resources away from other emergencies. Since law enforcement and emergency services must respond, those resources are unavailable to others who might be victims of other crimes, accidents or medical emergencies. USA Today reported that in 2023, “swatting” hoaxes cost $82.3 million for police to respond to what were ultimately false reports. This is a foolish and deadly game with real life-and-death consequences.
USA Today reported on the spike of hoax emergency calls and noted that it is a growing concern.
Intolerable Crime
“It’s an enormous problem,” said Elizabeth Jaffe, associate professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School whose focus is cyberbullying and social media, according to USA Today. “One incident is a major problem, so if we’ve got hundreds and thousands, it’s an evolving epidemic.”
Jaffe told USA Today that this style of hoaxes started with pulling firearm alarms, for the thrill of it. There is no thrill for those who fear for their safety. Those calling in these hoaxes must know that this is an intolerable crime.
The FBI is aware of the disdainful trend.
“The FBI continues to work with state and local partners to investigate the swatting hoaxes but cannot say at this stage whether or not the incidents are connected,” the bureau said to NBC News.
The firearm industry is often the first target of gun control groups when mentally-unstable criminals commit their heinous murders. Our commitment to Real Solutions. Safer Communities is unwavering. Members of the firearm industry work to ensure firearms don’t end up in the hands of those who cannot be trusted to possess them. This cruel and twisted wave of “swatting” hoaxes must end. As difficult as these investigations might be, the perpetrators of these hoaxes must be exposed and held accountable.
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