I think a lot more important part of the problem is getting SWATted and potentially killed by the police. For which they will also receive minimal to no punishment, so no change in future behavior either.

It wasn’t spoofing per se that caused the word “deadly” appear in this article’s title.

I think it is. See recent HN story [1], and specifically the page it links about Sender ID regulations [2].

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31862994

[2] https://support.sms.to/support/solutions/articles/4300056265...

Yes, but phone number spoofing is not an important part of this story in any way.