Last month, the FBI sent an advisory to law enforcement agencies in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas sharing a tip that al-Qaida might attack shopping malls in one of those cities during the Christmas season.

Death came to a shopping mall last week. But the shooter in Omaha, Neb., wasn't a terrorist from the Middle East but a troubled teen in middle America who took his own life after killing eight others.

Then Sunday, four more people were killed in two locations in Colorado - one a church, the other a training site for missionaries - before a security guard killed the gunman outside the New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

With 14 people dead, including the two gunmen, we take no solace in the fact that these shootings had nothing to do with worldwide terrorism.

That one of the victims of the Omaha shooting was a 2005 graduate of Illinois State University brings the incident closer to home.

The FBI passed along its advisory about a possible terrorist strike even though it gave little credence to the unsubstantiated tip. The information was shared to err on the side of caution.

One can imagine the outrage if the FBI hadn't advised other agencies of the tip and a terrorist attack did occur at a mall.

But where is the outrage over the attacks of the past week? Would we react differently if terrorism were involved?

As a society, we are troubled by the violence, the loss of innocent life and the feeling of helplessness in preventing such tragedies.

As a community, we are troubled by knowing the phrase "it can't happen here" rings hollow. As these incidents and others have shown, it can happen anywhere.

Knowing such incidents are rare is small consolation, whether they happen at a store, a church or a school.

So what can we do?

A bunker mentality won't help. We can't lock ourselves in our homes and lock away society's troubles. Statistically, driving down the road - even when they are not icy - is a greater danger than random violence.

However, vigilance - like fastening your seatbelt - remains important, whether one is looking for foreign terrorists or violence closer to home. Let police or security people know if you see someone acting suspicious.

Vigilance also is needed regarding those around you who may need help, like the teen in Nebraska. Getting them the help they need could benefit them and others.

We also should take the opportunity to share our feelings with others and let them know we care.