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

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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
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⚠️ 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
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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