Stop the Killing

This episode is a reprised listener question from Season 3—and honestly, it’s one that feels just as urgent today as it did then. Originally sparked by a question about “leakage” (those warning signs before violence), this conversation dives into something we all recognise… but often struggle with: 👉 The hesitation to act. Why do we see something… feel something… and still say nothing? In this episode, we explore: The real reason people hesitate to report concerns Why your gut instinct matters more than you think How “leakage” shows up before acts of violence The critical role everyday people play in prevention Because here’s the truth:Most people don’t miss the signs…They just don’t act on them. And as you’ll hear in this episode, that hesitation can be the difference between prevention and tragedy. One of the biggest barriers isn’t awareness—it’s action. People see things. They feel things. But they don’t always say something. This is one of those conversations that might just change how you respond the next time something doesn’t feel right. 🎧 Listen now and ask yourself:Would you act… or would you hesitate? Relevant Resources and Links: Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and early access to episodes. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. More insights from Katherine Schweit: Katherine Schweit.. Website: Sarah Ferris Media Email: [email protected] Share: If you found this episode insightful, share it with someone who might benefit from it and join the conversation on social media. RESOURCES Stop the Bleed training FBI RUN, HIDE, FIGHT This is a Sarah Ferris Media production on the Killer Podcasts Network.Check out more Sarah Ferris Media productions: CONmunity podcast KLOOGHLESS - THE LONG CON GUILTY GREENIE THE BRAVERY ACADEMY WATCHING TWO DETECTIVES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if preventing school shootings has far less to do with reacting… and everything to do with what happens long before? In this powerful episode of Stop the Killing, Katherine Schweit is joined by leading researchers from the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention and the National Center for School Safety to unpack what the data actually tells us about stopping violence before it starts. This isn’t about headlines.This is about evidence, prevention, and what really works. Dr. Brianna Scott — Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan Dr. Elyse Thulin — Research Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Dr. Sarah M. Stilwell — Researcher in Educational Psychology, University of Michigan Why school shootings are the end of a long chain of missed warning signs The role of anonymous reporting systems in preventing harm How school culture, belonging, and connection reduce violence risk The three critical environments: physical, social, and attentive Why most youth access to firearms comes from familiar homes And how early intervention can stop escalation before it becomes tragedy School shootings don’t begin with a weapon.They begin with missed opportunities to intervene earlier. Here are the resources mentioned in this episode — all worth exploring: Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) Program (free curriculum download):👉 https://yes.sph.umich.edu/ ERPO Toolkit (Extreme Risk Protection Orders):👉 https://firearminjury.umich.edu/erpo-toolkit/ Secure Firearm Storage Toolkit:👉 https://firearminjury.umich.edu/safe-firearm-storage-toolkit-home/ National Center for School Safety:👉 https://www.nc2s.org/ Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention:👉 https://firearminjury.umich.edu/ Comprehensive School Safety Model:👉 https://www.nc2s.org/resource/a-positive-youth-development-approach-to-school-safety/ You don’t need to be an expert to prevent violence. 👉 Notice the signs👉 Speak up👉 Stay connected Because one action — one conversation — can change everything. National Center for School Safetyhttps://www.nc2s.org University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Preventionhttps://firearminjury.umich.edu Relevant Resources and Links: Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and early access to episodes. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. More insights from Katherine Schweit: Katherine Schweit.. Website: Sarah Ferris Media Email: [email protected] Share: If you found this episode insightful, share it with someone who might benefit from it and join the conversation on social media. RESOURCES Stop the Bleed training FBI RUN, HIDE, FIGHT This is a Sarah Ferris Media production on the Killer Podcasts Network.Check out more Sarah Ferris Media productions: CONmunity podcast KLOOGHLESS - THE LONG CON GUILTY GREENIE THE BRAVERY ACADEMY WATCHING TWO DETECTIVES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

⚠️ How many lives can Red Flag Laws actually save? A six-state study looked at how Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) are used to prevent violence and suicide. The finding was striking. For roughly every 13–18 ERPOs issued… one life was saved. Most often by preventing firearm suicide during a crisis moment. It’s still early research, but the evidence is increasingly clear:temporarily removing access to a gun during a crisis can reduce deaths. 🎙 We break down the research and how these laws work in the latest episode of Stop the Killing. Supporters can listen right now on Patreon👉 Patreon.com/stopthekilling Or listen on Apple Podcasts — simply click the link in the app. Because understanding the warning signs — and the tools that exist — could save lives. #StopTheKilling #RedFlagLaws #GunViolencePrevention #SchoolSafety #MassShootingPrevention #TrueCrimePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

⚠️ Could a simple legal tool stop violence before it happens? Research into Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) — often called Red Flag Laws — is showing promising results. In states like Connecticut and Indiana, firearm suicides dropped 14% and 7.5% after these laws were introduced. Another multi-state study found that for roughly every 13–18 ERPOs issued, one life was saved. It’s early research — but the evidence is growing that temporarily removing access to firearms during a crisis can reduce deaths. 🎙 This conversation and the research behind it is explored in the latest episode of Stop the Killing. Supporters can listen right now on Patreon👉 Patreon.com/stopthekilling Or listen on Apple Podcasts — simply click the link in the app. Because understanding the warning signs — and the tools that exist — could save lives. #StopTheKilling #SchoolSafety #RedFlagLaws #GunViolencePrevention #TrueCrimePodcast #MassShootingPrevention Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if there was a legal tool designed to stop a mass shooting before it happens? In this episode of Stop the Killing, former FBI executive Katherine Schweit sits down with leading researchers studying gun violence prevention to explain Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) — often referred to as Red Flag Laws. These laws allow courts to temporarily restrict firearm access for people who are considered a risk to themselves or others. But how do they actually work? And can they help prevent tragedies like school shootings? Our guests from the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention and the National Center for School Safety break down the research, the misconceptions, and the real-world impact of these laws. The conversation also explores why school safety goes far beyond metal detectors and lockdown drills, and why evidence shows that prevention must involve families, schools, communities, and early intervention strategies. If you’ve ever wondered whether mass shootings can actually be prevented — and what role communities can play — this episode provides crucial insight. Michael HoltzProgram Manager – Michigan Firearm Law Implementation ProgramUniversity of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention Stephen Oliphant, PhDResearch InvestigatorUniversity of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention Sarah StillwellResearch InvestigatorNational Center for School Safetyand the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention What Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) actually are Why ERPOs are often misunderstood as “gun confiscation laws” The research showing reductions in firearm suicides How ERPOs may help prevent mass shootings Why some states use these laws far more than others What the data says about school safety strategies Why anonymous reporting systems may be more effective than metal detectors The importance of community awareness and early intervention National Center for School Safetyhttps://www.nc2s.org University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Preventionhttps://firearminjury.umich.edu Relevant Resources and Links: Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and early access to episodes. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. More insights from Katherine Schweit: Katherine Schweit.. Website: Sarah Ferris Media Email: [email protected] Share: If you found this episode insightful, share it with someone who might benefit from it and join the conversation on social media. RESOURCES Stop the Bleed training FBI RUN, HIDE, FIGHT This is a Sarah Ferris Media production on the Killer Podcasts Network.Check out more Sarah Ferris Media productions: CONmunity podcast KLOOGHLESS - THE LONG CON GUILTY GREENIE THE BRAVERY ACADEMY WATCHING TWO DETECTIVES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we talk about gun violence, we count the dead.We count the injured.We debate the laws. But what about the financial cost? In this episode, former FBI executive Katherine Schweit examines the hidden economic impact of gun violence in America — from multi-million-dollar settlements to bankrupt gun manufacturers. Using real cases including: The 2022 Buffalo Tops Supermarket shooting The $73 million Sandy Hook settlement The $10 million award to a teacher shot by a 6-year-old student Lawsuits involving ghost guns, straw purchases, and firearm accessories Katherine breaks down: ✔ What the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) actually protects✔ Why a gun accessory manufacturer paid $1.75 million✔ How liability law is evolving✔ Whether firearm companies should be shielded from responsibility✔ And what shifting financial risk could mean for the future of gun policy This isn’t a debate about the Second Amendment.It’s a conversation about accountability, insurance, and the true cost of doing business in a country flooded with firearms. Because beyond grief and trauma — there is an economic impact. And someone always pays. Gun violence financial impact Firearm manufacturer liability PLCAA explained Sandy Hook lawsuit settlement Buffalo supermarket shooting 2022 Ghost guns and legal accountability Straw purchases and gun dealer liability School shooting lawsuits Insurance requirements for gun owners Economic cost of gun violence in America Relevant Resources and Links: Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and early access to episodes. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. More insights from Katherine Schweit: Katherine Schweit.. Website: Sarah Ferris Media Email: [email protected] Share: If you found this episode insightful, share it with someone who might benefit from it and join the conversation on social media. SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS, SUPPORTS THE PODCAST CRIMECON UK TICKETS HERE CRIMECON US TICKETS HERE DON’T forget to use DISCOUNT CODE “FERRIS” RESOURCES Stop the Bleed training FBI RUN, HIDE, FIGHT This is a Sarah Ferris Media production on the Killer Podcasts Network.Check out more Sarah Ferris Media productions: CONmunity podcast KLOOGHLESS - THE LONG CON GUILTY GREENIE THE BRAVERY ACADEMY WATCHING TWO DETECTIVESGun Violence, Firearm Law, Sandy Hook, Buffalo Shooting, School Safety, Second Amendment, Public Policy, Crime Prevention, Legal Analysis, True Crime Education Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As major religious holidays approach — Ramadan, Eid, Passover, and Easter — security agencies often raise threat assessments. Former FBI executive Katherine Schweit explains why periods of global conflict and major faith gatherings can increase security risks, and what simple awareness steps families can take to stay safe. This quick Stop the Killing bonus episode looks at how threat assessments work — and why being alert, not afraid, is one of the most important tools for public safety. Relevant Resources and Links: Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and early access to episodes. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. More insights from Katherine Schweit: Katherine Schweit.. Website: Sarah Ferris Media Email: [email protected] Share: If you found this episode insightful, share it with someone who might benefit from it and join the conversation on social media. SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS, SUPPORTS THE PODCAST CRIMECON UK TICKETS HERE CRIMECON US TICKETS HERE DON’T forget to use DISCOUNT CODE “FERRIS” RESOURCES Stop the Bleed training FBI RUN, HIDE, FIGHT This is a Sarah Ferris Media production on the Killer Podcasts Network.Check out more Sarah Ferris Media productions: CONmunity podcast KLOOGHLESS - THE LONG CON GUILTY GREENIE THE BRAVERY ACADEMY WATCHING TWO DETECTIVES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a school shooting happens, the focus is usually on the gunman. But what happens when the parents are held responsible too? In this episode of Stop the Killing, former FBI executive Katherine Schweit examines the landmark conviction of a father following the Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia, where two students and two teachers were killed in September 2024. The case raises a question that is reshaping the legal landscape in the United States: Can parents be criminally liable for the actions of their children? Following a two-week trial and just two hours of jury deliberation, the father of the alleged teenage shooter was convicted on multiple charges including involuntary manslaughter and second-degree murder. In this episode, we unpack: Why prosecutors argued the father was criminally negligent How this case compares to the Oxford High School shooting parents’ convictions The warning signs that appeared before the tragedy The legal concept of parental liability in school shootings What threat assessment teams can do to prevent violence Why prosecutors may increasingly charge parents in future cases This episode explores the difficult but urgent question: Where does responsibility begin — and where does it end — when a child commits an act of mass violence? Because the legal system may be entering a new era where parental decisions can carry criminal consequences. Apalachee High School shooting Parents charged in school shootings Criminal negligence and gun ownership Oxford High School shooting parents case Warning signs before mass violence Threat assessment teams in schools Gun access and youth violence prevention Legal accountability in school shootings Relevant Resources and Links: Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and early access to episodes. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. More insights from Katherine Schweit: Katherine Schweit. Website: Sarah Ferris Media Email: [email protected] Share: If you found this episode insightful, share it with someone who might benefit from it and join the conversation on social media. RESOURCES Stop the Bleed training FBI RUN, HIDE, FIGHT This is a Sarah Ferris Media production on the Killer Podcasts Network.Check out more Sarah Ferris Media productions: CONmunity Podcast KLOOGHLESS - THE LONG CON GUILTY GREENIE THE BRAVERY ACADEMY WATCHING TWO DETECTIVES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices