When gunfire erupted at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, a father of two stepped into the chaos. Kaylub Giamanco, a 36‑year‑old carpenter, retrieved the .40‑caliber pistol he kept in his vehicle and fired at the teenage shooter, according to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz.
President Trump praises the “good guy with a gun”
President Donald Trump praised Giamanco on Friday, saying, “It’s a terrible thing, but thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it.” The comment was made during a White House briefing and reflects the administration’s long‑standing support for armed citizens who intervene in active‑attack situations.
What the data show
The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University has tracked 634 “active‑attack” incidents from 2000 to 2025. In 374 of those cases, the attacker was stopped before police arrived. Of those, 29 ended when armed civilians shot the perpetrator, and 31 ended when civilians subdued the attacker by other means, such as wrestling or weapon removal. “They recognize they may be the only way to stop it before law enforcement arrives,” said James Keith, a spokesperson for the center.
Local impact and broader debate
The Bend community mourns the three students and a teacher who lost their lives, while also celebrating Giamanco’s bravery. Parents at the school expressed relief that an armed civilian was present, noting that the swift response likely prevented further casualties.
Gun‑rights advocates have long pointed to incidents like this as evidence that law‑abiding gun owners can serve as a first line of defense. The story adds to a growing list of armed civilians who have intervened in mass‑shooting events, including an off‑duty officer and a civilian at an In‑N‑Out Burger in Idaho, a firearms instructor who stopped a shooter at West Freeway Church of Christ in Texas, and former NRA instructor Stephen Willeford who confronted a gunman at a church in 2017.
State policies on armed civilians
Texas, a state with some of the nation’s least restrictive gun laws, has taken steps to formalize armed protection in schools. The Texas school‑marshal program, created in 2013, allows trained teachers and staff to carry concealed firearms on campus. The program was expanded after the 2018 high‑school shooting near Houston and the 2022 Robb Elementary School tragedy in Uvalde.
While Oregon’s gun‑control rankings are among the strongest, the Bend incident has reignited discussion about whether more states should consider similar measures to empower law‑abiding citizens to act in emergencies.
Community response
Local leaders have called for a thorough review of school safety protocols, emphasizing the need for both physical security measures and community preparedness. The Bend School District announced plans to hold a town hall meeting next week to hear parents’ concerns and discuss potential enhancements to emergency response training.
Giamanco’s actions have been widely praised as an example of responsible gun ownership and civic duty. As the nation continues to grapple with the frequency of mass shootings, stories like this underscore the ongoing debate over the role of armed civilians in public safety.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
