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

About this episode

Katherine Schweit discusses the hidden economic impact of gun violence in America, including lawsuits and liability issues.

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…

People in this episode

Guest: Katherine Schweit

Topics covered

• gun violence
• financial impact
• liability
• lawsuits
• accountability
• insurance
• economic cost

Keywords

• gun violence financial impact
• firearm manufacturer liability
• PLCAA explained
• Sandy Hook lawsuit settlement
• Buffalo supermarket shooting 2022
• ghost guns
• legal accountability
• straw purchases
• school shooting lawsuits
• insurance requirements for gun owners

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FBI, Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), gun accessory manufacturer

Places: America

More episodes of Stop the Killing

• S6E13 SANDY HOOK TO BONDI: HOW MASS-SHOOTING TRAINING CHANGED POLICING — PART ONE · June 11, 2026 · 36 min
• S6B8 When a Six-Year-Old Shoots: The Richneck Case and the Question of Accountability · May 25, 2026 · 12 min
• S6E12 From Survival to Action: Whitney Austin on Recovery & Preventing Gun Violence — Part 2 · May 21, 2026 · 30 min
• S6E11 Surviving a Mass Shooting: Whitney Austin’s Story of Strength — Part 1 · May 14, 2026 · 31 min
• S6E10 Why ‘Being on the Radar’ Doesn’t Stop a Shooter (Part 2) | Katherine Schweit · May 7, 2026 · 33 min
• S6E9 He Was on the Radar’ — What That Actually Means (Part 1) | Katherine Schweit · April 30, 2026 · 35 min