i won't write my opinions on gun control.
but i came across this and was in awe at how amazing it was.
the father of a victim in the columbine shooting made a speech.
and it was astonishing in every way.
please read.
with an open heart. and an open mind.
i don't want to offend anybody.
and i'm sorry if i do.
but this is too good to not share.
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.
What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was
painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say,
nor it was received well.
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:
"Since the dawn of creation, there has been both good & evil
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 that expresses 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 all we need!
Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul & 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 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 so doing,
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 & 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 & restrictive legislation are not the answers.
The young people of our nation hold the key.
There is not a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched!
We do not need more religion.
We do not needs 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
& a humble acknowledgment
that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God!
As my son Craig lay under the table in the school library & saw his two friends
murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in the 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!"
Do what the media did not....
let the nation hear this man's speech.
I am in awe & amazement at the honesty & truthfulness in his words.
I sincerely hope you were touched while reading this.