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Social media threats against events or schools can send people into a panic and force lockdowns…all because of a prank.  As Matt Galka tells us, lawmakers want to send a strong message that they’re not finding the “jokes” funny.

Social media posts threatening gun violence at multiple high schools around Florida’s Capitol earlier this week led to panic, low attendance, and extra security from law enforcement.

The threats appear to be a hoax. Now legislators say Florida laws on threats need to be updated.

“If you call in a bomb threat today to a school, that is a felony. If you threaten to go shoot the school up, that is a misdemeanor,” said Trilby Republican Sen. Wilton Simpson.

Simpson sponsors a bill that would clarify the threat laws.

Anyone caught making a verbal threat or writing one on social media could be hit with a felony

Local law enforcement is backing the bill. The Pasco County sheriff’s office cited a similar recent prank threat as a reason why there needs to be uniform penalties for bomb threats and shooting ones.

“Putting online that you’re going to shoot up the school, that could be a misdemeanor if it effected school function. This didn’t effect school function but it sure effected law enforcement function,” said PCSO Cpt. James Mallo.

But Senator Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) worries that saying a juvenile made terroristic threats could ruin the rest of their life.

“I think we just have to be careful when we’re escalating penalties for juveniles who may have done something dumb, but aren’t really a threat to society. I’m not sure I want to label a high school student a terrorist,” he said.

People could face up to 15 years behind bars and pay up to $10,000 dollars under the bill. But a judge could use discretion and shave off some prison time or potentially put a juvenile into a diversion program.

The bill unanimously cleared both a House and a Senate committee this week.