Imagine if this happened just a block from your child’s school. Last night, an unthinkable incident occurred at Grand Central Station in Manhattan when law enforcement officers had no choice but to respond with lethal force against a man who injured three people and declared himself 'Lucifer.'

The attacker wielded a machete and was heard shouting expletives in the crowded subway station before being confronted by police.

This isn’t an isolated incident. In recent months, similar attacks have occurred across major cities, with authorities struggling to keep pace with the growing threat of radicalized individuals causing chaos on public transportation.

What’s more alarming is that this attacker reportedly had a history known to local law enforcement but was somehow still able to carry out his violent act. It raises questions about how our current system fails to protect innocent lives and highlights the need for stricter measures under new administrations.

The victims are reported to be in stable condition at nearby hospitals, a small miracle amidst such horror. But what if they weren’t?

Every parent's worst nightmare is seeing their child endangered by radical acts like these. We must demand better from those tasked with keeping us safe – and that starts with speaking up.