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- 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.
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- What he said to our national leaders during this special
session of Congress was painfully truthful. It needs to be heard by every
parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist,
and every so-called expert!
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- 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.
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- The following is a portion of the transcript:
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- "Since the dawn of Creation there has been 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 eleven children
who diedmust not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.
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- 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.
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- 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!
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- Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the
blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves.
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- 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.
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- 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!
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- "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
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?
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- 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 contribute
to erode away our personal and private liberties.
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- 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 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.
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- 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 heat and a humble acknowledgement
that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God.
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- 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!
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA
- I give to you a sincere challenge:
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- 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."
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