On Thursday,
May 27, 1999, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the
Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to
address the House Judiciary Committee's sub-committee. These courageous
words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply
personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the
wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:
Since
the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil in the hearts of men
and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence.
The
death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that
heroic teacher and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain.
Their blood cries out for answers.
The
first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in
the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the
National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the
murder could only be found in Cain's heart.
In
the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly
fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of
the NRA.
I
am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or
defend the NRA — because I don't believe that they are responsible for my
daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe they need to be defended. If I
believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their
strongest opponent.
I
am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy — it was a
spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame
lies!
Much
of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the
pointing fingers of the accusers themselves.
I
wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was
written way before I knew I would be speaking here today:
Your
laws ignore our deepest needs
Your words are empty air
You've stripped away our heritage
You've outlawed simple prayer
Now
gunshots fill our classrooms
And precious children die
You seek for answers everywhere
And ask the question "Why"?
You
regulate restrictive laws
Through legislative creed
And yet you fail to understand
That God is what we need
Men
and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit.
When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void
that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc.
Spiritual
influences were present within our educational systems for most of our
nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological
seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation?
We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred
and violence.
And
when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs — politicians
immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to
pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and
private liberties.
We
do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been
stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who
spends months planning this type of massacre.
The
real villain lies within our own hearts. Political
posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers. The
young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening
taking place that will not be squelched!
We
do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists
spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar
church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored.
We
do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was
founded on the principle of simple trust in God!
As
my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two
friends murdered before his very eyes — He did not hesitate to pray in
school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right!
I
challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize
that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to
our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in
vain.
Dare
to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that
violates your God-given right to communicate with Him.
To
those of you who would point your finger at the NRA I give to you a sincere
challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My
daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will
not allow that to happen!
Darell
Scott's Biography
Give
God your ambitions and dreams. Then trust Him with the outcome
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Tim
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