Yesterday was supposed to be like any other day in our neighborhood. The kids were out playing and laughing, not knowing that just a few miles away, police had another chance to protect them from a tragedy.

But we know now they missed their opportunity. Multiple warnings about the man who would go on to hurt children at his local school went unheeded. Authorities visited him at home because of mental health concerns and even took weapons from his home two years ago, only to return them later for reasons that still baffle us.

Can you imagine if this happened in your neighborhood? Can you picture the shock on parents' faces as they learn their child's school was the site of such an act?

This isn't isolated. We've seen too many instances where authorities look away, thinking they have enough time to solve complex issues before stepping in.

What if our children were his next target? The thought alone is terrifying and it hits close to home for everyone here.

I can’t shake the fear that we’re leaving a world behind with more questions than answers. What kind of world are we creating?

In moments like these, all I want to do is protect our children from harm. But how much longer can we rely on systems that seem to fail us again and again?

Every parent knows the fear of not knowing what dangers might be lurking around the corner.

Please share this with every parent you know. Let’s make sure this kind of tragedy never happens in our backyards.