A Grieving
Father Speaks
Testimony of Darrell Scott --
father of two victims of Columbine high school shooting --
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 of 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 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 daughters 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 four nights ago that express my feelings best. This
was written way before I knew l 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 makeup, 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 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 is 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
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.
See also
Teenage Rage and Deadly Delights
and
Using violence to justify
government control