Silver Rail State Response Remarks

October 26, 2026 

I want to start by recognizing the victims, the survivors, the families, the students, the educators, and the entire Bend community. What happened at Silver Rail Elementary should never happen to any school, to any community. We’re here today to make it clear that the people of Bend will not have to navigate the long road ahead on their own. 

Since this tragedy, I have been talking with local leaders, school officials, and community partners about what they need from the state. I’ve also heard from those who have experienced tragedy like this in other parts of our state and country.  

The message is clear: The community is hurting, needs are immediate, and the recovery will take time.  

Educators need the ability to step away and take care of themselves so they can heal and stay in the field they love. Students and families need sustained support to process trauma. The district needs help navigating federal recovery funding and the flexibility to focus on its students. 

Here is what we are doing about it. 

I have directed state agencies to dedicate people and resources to help meet these needs, not for a few days – but for the long haul. 

The Oregon Department of Education is dedicating full-time staff to help the district secure federal recovery funds. The Oregon Employment Department is sending staff to Central Oregon to help educators and other staff in the region access Paid Leave Oregon. And in support of making sure substitute educators and other professional are ready and available, the Oregon State Police is expediting background checks. 

I have also issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in the Bend-La Pine School District and the High Desert Education Service District. This offers administrative flexibility – allowing the school community to meet its most urgent needs. Business as usual will not be the norm for some time, and that needs to be okay.  

And I want to be clear: we cannot ask this community to wait for federal reimbursement before getting the support it needs. 

I am requesting state funding through the Emergency Board of the Oregon Legislature so the district can address urgent costs, bring in substitute educators, make necessary building repairs, and coordinate recovery efforts. We shouldn’t wait to invest in this community’s recovery.  

And, of course, the question on all our minds is what we can do to prevent horrific tragedies like this one in the future. 

The answer to that question isn’t simple, but it begins with common sense. Indeed, everyone should agree that keeping firearms out of the hands of children is the right idea.  

Oregon has safe storage requirements. But having a law on the books is not enough if people do not understand what it requires or how to comply. 

That is why my office will be directing school districts across Oregon to communicate safe storage requirements to parents. 

Every family should know and be reminded of their responsibilities under Oregon law, and every firearm owner should know there are practical ways to secure a firearm without spending hundreds of dollars on a gun safe. Lockboxes, cable locks, and other appropriate locking devices can help prevent unauthorized access. What matters is using a secure method that meets the law's requirements and keeps firearms away from children. 

This is about taking reasonable steps to protect our kids. It’s about making sure people have clear information and practical options. And it’s about recognizing that preventing a tragedy is always better than responding to one. But communicating the law is only a start. 

I remain strongly committed to examining Oregon's gun violence prevention laws and determining what more we can do to prevent firearm deaths. I do not believe our responsibility ends when the immediate crisis passes. 

We need to understand what happened, identify where our laws and their implementation can be strengthened, and be willing to act on what we learn. 

I will continue working with legislators, law enforcement, school leaders, families, and community partners to do that work.