TESTIMONY
Darrel Scott
Father of a victim of the Columbine H.S. Shootings
Given before the Subcommittee on Crime, U.S. House of Representatives

 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' history.  Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries.  This is an 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 an 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 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.