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

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

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