Congressional Testimony by Father of Two Victims of Columbine School Shooting

  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 on Crime. What he said to our national leaders was painfully truthful. They were probably unprepared for what he was to say, nor was his denunciation of our pop culture received well or received coverage in the media. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every “expert”! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. Because of the virtual blackout by the Main Media, to some, his testimony may appear to be a "hoax." Let me assure you, it is not. I personally checked its authenticity: it comes directly from the Congressional transcript.  (E. Ross, PhD, publisher).

TESTIMONY OF

DARRELL SCOTT ·

FATHER OF TWO VICTIMS OF

COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTINGS

LITTLETON, COLORADO

*********

BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE,

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1999

2:00P.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 n1y wonderful  daughter, Rachel  Joy Scott, and  the  deaths of that heroic teacher and the other  1 J  children  who died  must  not be in vain.     Their blood cries out for answers.

The tirst recorded act of violence was when Cain slew  his brother  Able 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 arc 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  law
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 new 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 humb1e 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  millenium  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