Interrupting the Next Mass Shooting

What exactly are “common sense gun laws”?  Are they simply in the eye of the beholder?  Can you protect Second Amendment rights while implementing stricter gun policies?  Do gun laws work in deterring mass shootings?  Are reactive gun laws effective in the aftermath of a shooting?  WGN’s Ryan Burrow digs deeper into laws that are introduced, strengthened and criticized following a mass shooting.  Northwestern University Professor Lori Post explains her research on the effectiveness of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons ban.  Dr. Shannon Fratarolli, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, discusses her extensive research on Extreme Risk Protection orders, and what many would call “Red Flag Laws.”  And Dr. David Riedman, a professor of security and risk management, and the creator of the K-12 School Shooting Database, looks into the inconsistency in laws state-to-state on accountability among parents and guardians of a young shooter.

WGN’s Ryan Burrow digs deeper into the prevalence of mass shootings outside of the United States.  Are mass shootings a uniquely American problem?  How do other countries handle and prepare for shootings?  Bram Bart van der Meer, Director and Investigative Psychologist with Dantes Psychology in The Netherlands, discusses risk assessment in Europe of potentially dangerous individuals.  Dr. Jason R. Silva, an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Social Work at William Paterson University shares his research on global mass shootings.

WGN’s Ryan Burrow looks at the cultures of guns and mental health in opposite corners of the world, South Korea and Germany.  These are two countries have long histories of war and violence, yet mass shootings and violence are rare. Ryan speaks with Sung Joon Cho, MD, PhD, Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Kangbuk Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea, and Deputy Director Workplace Mental Health Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital about the high rate of suicide in South Korea.  Dr. Thomas Hestermann, a professor of journalism at Macromedia University in Germany, discusses about German gun culture in and lack of violent crime.

WGN’s Ryan Burrow looks at security upgrades at Chicago’s Lollapalooza.  He speaks with Chad Green, creator of an AI-based gun detection system for Omnilert (https://www.omnilert.com/), designed to make schools safer.  And he talks with William Philp, a parent of two Apalachee High School students, who has been fighting for tighter school security following the 2024 shooting that left two students and two teachers dead, and seven others hurt.

Emilie Parker National School Safety Leadership Award: https://www.ncssd.org/c/announcements/nominations-now-open-for-zeronow-s-emilie-parker-national-school-safety-leadership-award

WGN’s Ryan Burrow questions his own motives as he wraps up coverage of the 2025 trial of Robert Crimo III. Crimo was convicted and sentenced in the 2023 Highland Park shooting at a Fourth of July parade. Ryan speaks with Harold Ng, a victim of the 2008 Northern Illinois University shooting.

WGN’s Ryan Burrow looks at those who confronted gunmen in active shooting situations, and statistics related to ending active shooting threats. He is joined by Aurora, Illinois Police Sergeant Chris Weaver who was one of the first law enforcement responders to the 2019 workplace shooting at Henry Pratt, and Army Veteran Richard Fierro who tackled and helped disarm the gunman in the 2022 Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The heroes talk about their thought process and decision making when trapped in a life threatening situation.

WGN’s Ryan Burrow considers decision making in the midst of an active shooting, including mental preparation, best practices to avoid danger, and escaping the most at risk areas. He is joined by Columbine survivor and filmmaker Laura Farber who created and directed the 2019 film ‘We Are Columbine’. Watch the trailer here.

WGN’s Ryan Burrow reflects back on 2018 ALICE Training with teachers at an Illinois school, and contrasts that with the FBI’s current ASAPP (Active Shooter Attack Prevention and Preparedness) for civilians. He talks with Bridgette Jenkins, FBI Supervisory Special Agent.

WGN’s Ryan Burrow reveals conversations he’s been having with real mass shooters, including letters exchanged with the suspected Highland Park shooter.  He also talks with former Aurora, Illinois Police Chief Kristen Ziman about her response to the Henry Pratt shooting, being on the task force reviewing the Robb Elementary shooting, and her new mission to stop these types of shootings.

WGN’s Ryan Burrow explains the confusion in using the term “mass shooting”, and talks with attorney Antonio Romanucci who represents victims of mass shootings in civil litigation.