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NON PD --worth reading > > [log in to unmask] > > > Sent: Thursday, June 17, 1999 1:27 PM > Subject: A father speaks.... > > > > TESTIMONY > > OF > > DARRELL SCOTT > > FATHER OF TWO VICTIMS > > OF > > COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTINGS > > LITTLETION, COLORADO > > > > ********* > > BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME > > HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE > > UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES > > THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1999 > > 2:00 P.M. > > 2141 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING > > > > > > Since the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil > > in the heart 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 11 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 Able 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 that > > 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 that blame lies here in this room. Much of that > > blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers > > themselves. > > > > I wrote a poem just 4 nights ago that express 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 3 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 wreck 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 historic fact. > > > > What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused > > to honor God, and in doing so, 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 continue 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 acknowledgement > > 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 millenium with a sacred disregard for > > legislation that violates your conscience and denies 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 you cast > > the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain. The young > > people of this country will not allow that to happen. >