We commend Mower County’s recent push to take safety precautions in the Mower County Government Center, even though it’s indicative of a sad truth in our country.

The county is adding safety windows and electronic, key-card accessible door locks to limit public access in the Government Center, similar to the ones it built into the Jail and Justice Center in 2010.

According to County Coordinator Craig Oscarson, it’s becoming commonplace for cities, counties and schools to plan for shooters and violent residents after several shootings across the nation in recent years. But it’s not just the county, schools commonly perform lockdown drills with students. In 2013, County Safety Director Amy Lammey trained the county board on how to plan for an active shooter.

Friday’s Santa Barbara shooting where 22-year-old Elliott Rodger reportedly killed six people and injured 13 was just the latest in a long string of shootings like Newtown and Aurora, Colo., in 2012.

The recent foiled bomb plot in Waseca is a reminder that it can happen closer to home.

While it’s sad, we agree with Oscarson’s sentiment: “It’s just the way of the world. It’s ugly.”

While our nation must certainly address this alarming, continued trend, it’s the right move for local leaders to plan for the worst.