US Representative Katherine Clark is the sponsor behind the Interstate Swatting Hoax Act - a bill that would make it a federal crime to spur an emergency response by any law enforcement agency without cause.
The Boston Globe reports that on Sunday night she was settling in to watch the series 'Veep' - when her home was surrounded by police cars and cops armed with 'long guns'.
This was apparently not the SWAT team, but rather just ordinary Melrose police officers.
Someone had called the police - telling them that there was an active shooter in her house.
The call had been made using a computer generated voice Melrose police spokesman, John Guilfoil told the Globe.
Clark's bill, if it passes, will impose fines and punishments ranging all the way up to life in prison if somebody dies due to the 'prank'.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
