When we think about threats to our children, our minds often go to school shootings and internal security breaches. We lock down classrooms, implement single points of entry, and run active shooter drills to prepare for the worst. But the truth is, external threats are just as real, just as dangerous, and tragically, just as ignored in our safety planning.

The vulnerability of soft targets—daycares, private schools, churches, and government buildings—is a blind spot in our current emergency notification systems. Right now, in Broward County Government only public and charter schools are looped into emergency notifications, and even that process is flawed. The time it takes for schools to go on lockdown is, on average, 9 to 11 minutes from the initial alert, with four separate points of human failure that introduce lag and risk. Private schools, daycares, and religious institutions are entirely left out of this emergency communication net. This pretty much the norm for most municipalities.

The Overlooked Reality of External Threats

We obsess over the idea of someone coming into a school with bad intentions—and rightfully so—but what about the dangers that come from outside?

My daughter attends a daycare just across the street from a Wells Fargo. It’s a busy area with people coming and going, but the reality is: What happens when a bank robbery goes wrong?

Imagine:

• A getaway car bails.
• Suspects flee on foot, crossing the busy intersection.
• They burst through the doors of the nearest building—the daycare—where 50 preschoolers are playing, laughing, completely unaware.

Without an advance warning system, the teachers inside have no idea what is coming. No one is locking doors, barricading classrooms, or executing emergency procedures because the first sign of danger is when the suspects are already in the building.

The Technology to Prevent the Unthinkable

We have the technology to automate alerts, cut out the human bottlenecks, and deliver real-time warnings to all soft targets, not just the select few. Think about it:

• Real-time alerts sent to private schools, daycares, churches, and community centers.
• Notifications triggered based on incident type and proximity to soft targets, not generic threat detection.
• Real-time acknowledgement tracking to make sure that the alerts were received and acknowledged.
• Multi-channel communication—text, email, and phone call. Digital signage can be an added option for those facilities wanting real-time visual notifications.

A Call to Action for Community Leaders

It’s time to move beyond conversation and into action. Local government officials, community leaders, and public safety advocates must recognize that the gap in emergency communication is a public safety failure. The technology is there. The need is clear. All that’s missing is the commitment to protect our most vulnerable locations.

As the Founder and Principal Consultant of Castleberry Public Safety Group, I am not just advocating for change—I am spearheading legislation to address this critical need in Florida's 2026 Legislative Session.

Proposed Legislation: The Litt, Feis, Hixon Guardian Bill

Title: Litt, Feis, Hixon Guardian Bill of 2026

Purpose: To provide real-time, automated emergency alerts to all designated soft targets within Florida, expanding beyond public schools to include private schools, daycares, religious institutions, and government buildings.

Key Provisions:

1. Mandatory Inclusion in Alert Networks
2. Automated Notification Systems
3. Response Time Requirements
4. Compliance and Penalties
5. Sustainable Funding Model
6. Funding and Grants
7. Implementation Timeline

Join the Movement: Advocate for Real Change

The Litt, Feis, Hixon Guardian Bill of 2026 is more than just a bill—it’s a promise to protect the most vulnerable among us. I am calling on community leaders, law enforcement, and parents to join me in pushing this legislation forward. We cannot wait for another tragedy to expose this gap. Let’s make sure every soft target is protected, not just the ones in public school districts.

To support this initiative or to learn more about how you can get involved, reach out to us at Castleberry Public Safety Group. Together, we can redefine what public safety means in our communities.

‍