El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks, facing a steady stream of gun and bomb threats against schools in El Paso County, has issued a stern warning alongside a newly released video. The public service announcement, titled "School Threats are No Joke," was put together in coordination with multiple agencies to underscore the severe repercussions of making such threats. "Whether it's a joke or not," Hicks stated, "these types of threats will be taken seriously and will be prosecuted for terroristic threats," as reported by KVIA.

Released jointly by the District Attorney's Office and other law enforcement entities, the video aims to increase awareness of the grave consequences that accompany threats against schools. Seen weekly, the threats are painstakingly addressed by the El Paso County Attorney’s Office which handles juvenile cases. El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez indicated that school threats are felony offenses, carrying severe legal consequences, as noted by KTSM.

Moreover, the effort seeks to educate students directly about the severity of these actions. Students found to have made threats, regardless if communicated through social media or by directly contacting a school, can face charges of a terroristic threat, a third-degree felony offense. Offenders may face up to 10 years in prison. This cautionary tale will soon be shown to students across El Paso's six school districts, in the hopes of deterring rash actions carried out without considering the full weight of the law. Sanchez believes this should make students think twice before making any threatening posts, as detailed by KFOX-TV.