Debate Over Armed Civilians' Role Grows Amid Rising Mass Shooting Concerns

Surveys show an increasing proportion of American gun owners—up to 72%—list personal safety as their chief reason for possession. At the same time, mass shootings have risen steadily since the mid-1960s, with workplaces and schools accounting for a sizable share of attacks, though they remain a relatively rare form of gun violence. The recent Twin Falls In-N-Out shooting brought attention to Jordan Salinas, an armed civilian who had prepared for such scenarios after a 2021 mall shooting and whose actions were praised for limiting casualties.

Training organization ALERRT, founded after the Columbine tragedy, offers a "Avoid, Deny, Defend" protocol that advises civilians to flee, block, or only fight as a final option. The group warns that mistakes can lead to additional injuries or deaths, citing cases where armed civilians were mistakenly shot by police or killed by attackers. A wrongful-death lawsuit in Utah involving a protest last year underscores the legal complexities when civilian gunfire results in fatalities. Overall, officials stress that while preparedness can be valuable, reliance on armed civilians should remain exceptional.