It has been five years since we lost our beloved daughter, Alyssa Alhadeff, and 16 of her classmates and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida . We know that far too many parents and loved ones across the country, from Parkland to Uvalde to Nashville, have been shackled with a terrible burden like ours, and we share in their grief.

This year alone, there have already been 23 devastating school shootings , each setting off a national outcry for immediate action to ensure the safety of our children. Reacting to these incidents is not enough; proactive school security must become a top priority for politicians and parents alike.

In the days, weeks, and months after we lost our daughter, there were many somber moments, but one of the most devastating was learning that if the proper school safety protocols had been in place, Alyssa might still be with us today. To honor our daughter and protect future generations, we have channeled our sadness into advocacy by founding Make Our Schools Safe , which empowers students and staff to help create and maintain a culture of safety and vigilance in a secure school environment.

As advocates for school safety, we understand firsthand how the debate surrounding this issue has become increasingly contentious and polarized. Given this challenge, we are leading a nationwide movement to make our schools safe through commonsense solutions that cut across party lines and put our children first.

The ALYSSA Act , named for our daughter, is one of those solutions. This legislation requires districts to install a silent panic alarm system that instantly links every classroom to first responders in an emergency. State versions of the bill have already passed in New Jersey , Florida , New York, Tennessee , Oregon , and Texas , and national legislation is now making its way through Congress.

Time equals life. Every second matters in a crisis — swift action can make the difference between tragedy and survival. Silent panic alarms offer two vital protections: They alert first responders the moment an emergency begins, and they notify everyone on campus of an emergency, allowing an immediate lockdown. If such alarms had been in place when Alyssa was in danger, she might still be with us today.

We have seen the difference immediate notification and emergency response can make. Thanks to the staff’s swift action at the Covenant School this March, Nashville first responders were able to intervene and stop the attack within three minutes of arriving on campus.

However, even when first responders are alerted immediately, it can take minutes for them to arrive on the scene. A 2019 Secret Service Analysis of Targeted School Violence Report indicated that in one-third of the cases of violence, it took first responders between 1 and 5 minutes to arrive on the scene after the attack was initiated, and in about a quarter of the cases, first responders arrived between 5 and 10 minutes after the attack began. When every second matters, an extra few minutes can provide a school shooter significant time to cause irreparable damage. Therefore, it is equally important to make sure everyone on campus is notified at the same time as first responders so the school can go into lockdown.

The Sandy Hook School Shooting Summary Report highlights the importance of rapid lockdowns because it found that no lives were lost in instances where lockdowns were executed quickly and effectively. Most recently, we saw how teachers saved students' lives in Nashville because they immediately went on lockdown, barricaded doors, and moved children out of the line of fire. Silent panic alarms can ensure a similar lockdown for any school by alerting the entire campus the moment a crisis begins.

It is common sense for all schools to have a system to alert authorities and notify everyone on campus when an emergency occurs. Installing silent panic alarms in schools can reduce response times and save lives.

Parents, it is up to us to start the battle cry. Let your school boards, superintendents, and lawmakers know your child deserves and needs a panic alert system on their campus. Your voice is your power!

We cannot bring Alyssa or other school shooting victims back, but we can work tirelessly to ensure that no other family has to experience the heartbreak that we endure every day. Let us unite to do everything possible to make our schools safe, starting by passing the ALYSSA Act nationwide.

Lori and Dr. Ilan Alhadeff are the parents of Alyssa Alhadeff, a victim of the February 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and founders of Make Our Schools Safe, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving school safety.