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Stop the Killing

Evergreen Podcasts & Sarah Ferris Media
Stop the Killing
Latest episode

221 episodes

  • Stop the Killing

    Red Flag Laws Explained: Can ERPOs Stop School Shootings?

    19/03/2026 | 0 mins.
    ⚠️ 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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  • Stop the Killing

    S6E3 Red Flag Laws Explained: Can ERPOs Stop School Shootings?

    19/03/2026 | 49 mins.
    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

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  • Stop the Killing

    S6E2 The Real Cost of Gun Violence: Lawsuits, Liability & the Price of Freedom

    12/03/2026 | 22 mins.
    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

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  • Stop the Killing

    S6B2 🚨 Why the FBI Raises Terror Threats During Religious Holidays

    05/03/2026 | 4 mins.
    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
  • Stop the Killing

    S6B1 Apalachee High School Shooting: Why the Shooter’s Father Was Convicted

    04/03/2026 | 31 mins.
    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

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About Stop the Killing

Exploring the Darkest Corners of Violence Prevention and Survival: Join Katherine Schweit, former head of the FBI's Active Shooter Program, and award-winning true-crime producer Sarah Ferris in Stop the Killing, the true-crime podcast that doesn’t just document tragedy but empowers listeners with the tools to prevent it. This series masterfully blends deep dives into infamous mass shootings, high-stakes FBI cases, and real-world survivor stories with expert analysis and practical safety strategies. Schweit—who led the first government study on mass shootings after Sandy Hook—delivers powerful insights, while Ferris transforms each episode into a gripping, unforgettable journey. Together, they equip listeners to recognize warning signs, understand preventative strategies, and become "upstanders" in the face of violence. In Season 5, meet heroes, advocates, and experts whose stories demand action—from Parkland parents who turned grief into advocacy, to Chris Hansen of To Catch a Predator - each story a call to action in America's ongoing fight against gun violence.  Stop the Killing isn’t just a podcast; it’s an indispensable guide to saving lives.
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