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TESTIMONY OF
DARRELL SCOTT
Father of Two of the Victims
of the
Columbine High School Shootings,
Littleton, 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 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 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
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
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.
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