Very powerful message....from the parent of a Columbine victim...

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 subcommittee.  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! 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.

The following is a portion of the transcript--

--both good & evil exists in the hearts 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 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 the blame lies here in this room.  Much of the blame lies behind the  pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. "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.

"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 reek 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 historical  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 contribute 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 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 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!:"   Be courageous enough to do what the media did not, let  the nation "hear" this man's speech. Please send this out to  everyone you can.!!!