The Oregon father that stopped a deadly school shooter tells his story for the first time.
It’s not every day that someone has to think about what they would do if they were put into a life or death situation. But that’s exactly what happened to 36-year old Kaylub Giamanco, who took it upon himself to stop a deadly school shooter that had killed several people. And Gun Owners of America spokesman Stephen Willeford can completely relate, having gone through a similar experience himself.
- The Oregon-based father spoke out for the first time this weekend about stopping the deadly shooter in a Bend elementary school.
- “I had to go in,” Kaylub Giamanco noted, insisting he would need to put a stop to the killings before they grew in numbers.
- Though Giamanco is grateful for his actions, he does feel regret about the “ones that I didn’t save.”
- There have been multiple active shooter events that have taken place this year, and that number, sadly, continues to grow.
- Giamanco’s actions show the importance of open-carry and Constitutional-carry citizens that can make a difference in the time of need.
Giamanco spoke with Oregon Public Broadcasting for the first time since stopping the shooter, insisting he’s no hero and he was just doing what he felt was right.
LEARN MORE ABOUT STEPHEN WILLEFORD’S BAREFOOT DEFENDER WEBSITE HERE.
“I have to go in,” he explained as he saw the shooter with a shotgun and reached for his gun in his vehicle. “People are going to die.”
After the shooter, a 16-year old former student at the school, killed several kids and a teacher, Giamanco took it upon himself to kill him before he could hurt anyone else.
Though many are hailing Giamanco for his heroic actions, he insists he’s “just a carpenter from Bend.” For that matter, he also felt remorse about the people he was unable to save.
“I want to apologize for not saving their babies,” Giamanco explained. “The gratitude for saving people’s children is awesome, but there were ones that I didn’t save.”
Regardless, Giamanco’s actions show the importance of open-carry and Constitutional-carry citizens, ones that can truly make a difference in the time of need.
Willeford, who himself was the “hero with a gun” in the Sutherland Springs situation back in 2017, totally understands Giamanco’s situation, but feels his actions showed what heroism is all about. He joins us now to discuss the situation further.
Q&A:
- What stood out to you about Kaylub Giamanco’s account of intervening during the Bend school shooting? How closely do you recognize with his actions, based on your own experience?
- Having experienced the Sutherland Springs shooting yourself, what challenges can confront someone who decides to intervene during an active-shooter emergency?
- What does this incident tell us about the potential role of armed civilians in stopping an attack, and what limitations should people understand?
- What additional steps should schools and communities consider to improve safety and prepare for an active-shooter emergency?
- How do you respond to people who believe incidents like this strengthen the case for expanded gun restrictions, while others argue they demonstrate the importance of an armed civilian response?
- What do you expect to be the central issues in the national gun rights debate as 2027 approaches?
- You recently wrote a book called A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy, revolving around your 2017 “hero with a gun” situation. Tell us more about how this came together, and why it’s such an important read right now.
- Where can people find your book?
- You can purchase the book here on Amazon, both in paperback and Kindle format.
- Where can we learn more about you, as well as Gun Owners of America?
- You can learn more at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com. You can also read more about the Gun Owners of America at https://www.gunowners.org/.
ORDER STEPHEN WILLEFORD’S BOOK, A TOWN CALLED SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, HERE.
About Stephen Willeford…
Stephen represents Gun Owners of America and is known around the country as the “good guy with the gun” for helping stop the largest Texas mass shooting in the history of the state in 2017. He is available to speak about all gun rights issues, as well as the importance of Gun Owners of America. He is the author of the book A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy. You can read more about him at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com.
CONTACT: Todd Baumann at 512-966-0983 or by email Jerry McGlothlin at bookings@specialguests.com.