A deadly school attack in Oregon has renewed debate over whether armed civilians can help stop mass shootings. The attack at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend killed three students and a teacher. A father who was at the school opened fire on the teenage gunman.
President Donald Trump praised the man on Friday. He said it was fortunate that someone with a gun knew how to use it.
The man was Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter and father of two girls. His mother, Kenda Freeman, said he stepped in after the shooting began at his daughters’ school.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said Giamanco had a .40-caliber pistol stored legally in his vehicle. He entered the school, heard gunshots and saw a teacher fighting with the attacker. He then fired his weapon.
The case stands out because armed civilians rarely stop mass attacks by shooting the person responsible. Data from a research center in Texas shows how uncommon such events are.
The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University studied 634 active attack cases from 2000 to 2025. The cases involved attackers who used guns, knives or vehicles.
Researchers found that 374 attacks ended before police arrived. In 29 of those cases, armed civilians shot the attacker. In another 31 cases, civilians stopped the attacker in other ways. Some wrestled the attacker to the ground or took away the weapon.
James Keith, a spokesperson for the center, said people may step in when they believe they are the only ones who can stop an attack before police arrive.
The findings show that civilian action can sometimes end an attack. Yet such cases remain rare. They also raise questions about the risks faced by people who try to stop an armed attacker.
For years, gun rights groups have used the idea of a good person with a gun to support wider gun access. They argue that armed citizens can protect themselves and others during a violent attack.
People who intervene have different levels of training. Some have military or law enforcement experience. Others act without such training when they face a sudden threat.
However, an armed response can also bring risks. In a fast-moving attack, it may be hard to tell who the attacker is. Police officers arriving at the scene may also mistake an armed civilian for the gunman.
The Oregon case has also drawn attention to efforts by some states to place armed staff or trained civilians in public spaces. Supporters say these steps may help stop an attack before more people are hurt.
Texas has taken several steps to expand the role of armed staff in schools. In 2013, the state created a school marshal program. It allows trained teachers and other school staff to carry concealed guns on campus.
The state later expanded school safety rules and programs for armed security staff. These steps followed major school shootings, including an attack at a high school near Houston in 2018 and the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde in 2022.
Gun laws vary across the United States. Texas has some of the least strict gun laws in the country, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. The group rates Oregon among the states with stronger gun laws.
The contrast reflects a wider national debate over how best to protect schools and public places. Some people support wider access to guns for self-defense. Others argue that stronger gun laws and better safety plans are needed to reduce the risk of mass shootings.
The Oregon attack has brought that debate back into focus. Giamanco’s actions may have helped stop the gunman, but one case cannot show whether armed civilians would prevent more attacks overall.
The data from Texas State University offers a wider view. Most of the attacks that ended before police arrived were not stopped by armed civilians shooting the attacker. Some ended through other forms of civilian action.
The rare cases in which armed people intervene can draw public praise. But they also show the difficult choices people may face during a mass attack, when every second can matter and the risk of further violence remains high.
