As the frequency of school shootings continue to rise each year, we are starting to see a disturbing pattern: Public outrage followed by political inaction.

The blame falls squarely on both sides of the aisle as neither party has done much to drive needed changes.

That makes it especially encouraging to see school districts across the country and right here in Kentucky decide they are not going to wait for politicians — many of whom are frozen by fear of losing votes — to come up with ways to keep our children safe.

In response to the Jan. 23 shooting at Marshall County High School, where two students were killed and 21 others were injured, the district’s safety committee recently approved new security measures that include walk-through metal detectors at all entrances of the high school and both middle schools, and increasing the number of school resource officers by 400 percent. Under the new procedures, elementary students will still be allowed to use backpacks, but only if they are made of see-through material.

Schools across the country are taking similar actions.

Now is the perfect time to move quickly in having these conversations and implementing changes. We hope the Clark County Public School District reviews all its safety measures and adjusts them accordingly.

Critics of the Marshall County changes and other proposals are quick to point out all of the reasons that, in their minds, these measures won’t make our children safer. Most of these individuals fail to offer any legitimate solutions of their own.

As a nation, we cannot sit idly and wait for politicians or anyone else to protect our children.

Change must happen at the local level, starting first inside our own homes — through education, safe gun storage and vigilance when it comes to our children’s behavior — and then through our local school boards who we elect to serve us.

It has never more clear. Inaction is inexcusable.