…I hope Bend, Oregon is thinking "What if?"
I took a side trip in thoughts to get to this post. The previous post went on an adventure. It led me to write this one. A lovely Hallmark Christmas movie inspired this title.
Are the people of Bend, thinking, "What if?" I bet a few are.
You can not go back but you can change the trajectory of a predictable event? No, you say? Some online groups say future proves past. You find all sorts of voices online.
Only morons ( and defense lawyers) think school shootings do not follow predictable patterns. Read these news articles. They may help in stopping the next foreseeable attempt. See Back to the Future post.
No manifestos in the Bend, Oregon shooting to FOIA?
Journalists must be asking questions. Can you connect dots? Are authorities holding more news conferences? Per Alexa, the Governor of Oregon spoke today, October 26, 2026 post mortem.
Two passing by in vehicles had thoughts on October 15, 2026 that crossed their minds when someone with a gun crossed their paths. One, per news reports, asked a question and called 911. His spidey senses were active as his car took bullets.
One passer by stopped and fired shots. Lots of news articles. He thought it could be his last live action. He wasn't wrong to think that. (See other posts.) He was the "Spiderman" who stopped the bad guy. This bad guy can not kill again.
Hopefully, the father, who helped, won't have to be in a sequel like the one mother of a student in the school. Two school shootings in one lifetime?
What would prequels tell? Does art imitate life or the reverse? Yes, see posts on Law and Order.
I have two HUGE questions and observations.
Why was the father who entered, with good intent, not shot when the police arrived... and then allowed to leave the building? It seems odd unless the narrative is deceptive. The kids had to wait to leave. He went home? What actions did he present to the police? I am sure if I am asking, someone else has similar thoughts.
Is he called a vigilante? Thankfully, per the news, he was vigilant, as was the red truck driver. We know some of his thoughts. I pray he finds peace in his thoughts and never has to kill to save a life again.
Do you know that the school district is getting all sorts of money now? Negative attention will do that. The Governor acts in this article. Is D.D. of Columbine infamy offering help? Copy and paste the article below and see Rewarded for Failures on this blog.
Does the mother of the shooter have second thoughts? The shooter's dad does. Reporters found him. Hopefully, no book tours for either one.
https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2026/10/father-of-bend-school-shooter-is-homeless-in-astoria.html
What if online groups were involved? Yes, the investigators are thinking. Nothing new in that thought process. Read about Eddie Werner's death by his neighbor or Colt Gray's shooting in a school on this blog.
Are there any other questions or What ifs? I formed some. Has this one been said outloud yet? If the past is any indication in the school shooting autopsies, it will be spoken for legal reasons. Police may be asking already.:
The hardest "What if " is to ask an actual shooting victim. In the seconds, after the shots were fired into the first set of doors, ugh, was a door opened that facilitated the opportunity to kill in the classroom? What is trained protocol?
Copy and paste below.
Read the information coming from the teacher's aid who was seriously wounded, but not killed.
She will be obligated to answer in an inquiry and court of law. It helps to remember.
Scarlet, the lawyers will not give a damn whether the staff member is seriously injured, mentally and physically. So do not shout at me as being harsh.
See previous posts on the testimony by Abby Zwerner in the civil and criminal trials out of the Newport News shooting in 2023. The Colt and Colin Gray trials explain also,
I do hope the parents file lawsuits and keep them public.
What if the mother of the shooter had watched the trial of Colin Gray? Colt Gray? How about the Crumbly's, Ethan's mom and dad? Is a life sentence for their boys comforting? At least prison allows visits.
What if parents did not buy people, with documented mental health issues, guns?
What if the SRO was at the school? It does seem the assigned ones were off campus in many of the schools when the lock downs started.
What if, what if, what if?
Are you ASKing?
From the Teacher's Desk with love and concern. The future is now they say.
What if the Spirits gave a word of warning? Ask before. Thoughts and prayers are good for prevention before rescue, recovery and regrets wreck the present and future. How about before a deep dive into the past?
Marian R. Carlino
October 26, 2026