COLUMBINE

betsy · February 4, 2013

On Thursday, 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. 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 just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

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 three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, 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 presences 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 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.

"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!"

- Darrell Scott

The media didn't share this.

Edited February 4, 2013 by betsy

Sleipnir · February 4, 2013

The media didn't share this.

I don't see why they need to, it was someone's opinion with a poorly constructed argument.

Michael Hardner · February 4, 2013

His assessment of the situation is incorrect. If he can't see how the NRA's lobbying of government to prevent laws from changing could make it easier for such incidents to happen, then I don't buy into any analysis he is providing.

betsy · February 5, 2013

I don't see why they need to, it was someone's opinion with a poorly constructed argument.

It may be his personal opinion, however being a parent of a victim and due to the circumstances, and most importantly, the venue in which he gave that opinion, that address would've been newsworthy to the un-biased mainstream media.

On Thursday, 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.

Edited February 5, 2013 by betsy

betsy · February 5, 2013

His assessment of the situation is incorrect. If he can't see how the NRA's lobbying of government to prevent laws from changing could make it easier for such incidents to happen, then I don't buy into any analysis he is providing.

I find your assessment of the whole scenario incorrect....you're focusing only on the weapons being used. The problem lies deeper than that. Society has to start addressing the question why so many mass killings /suicides are happening like as if it's become an epidemic.

Joe Biden admits gun control will not stop mass shooting.

Some of us already knew that!

Sleipnir · February 5, 2013

It may be his personal opinion, however being a parent of a victim and due to the circumstances, and most importantly, the venue in which he gave that opinion would've been newsworthy to the un-biased mainstream media.

How would it be newsworthy? I see it as a rambling incoherent religious speech.

Edited February 5, 2013 by Sleipnir

betsy · February 5, 2013

How would it be newsworthy? I see it as a rambling incoherent religious speech. He talked about the beauty of creation, the NRA and columbine shooting. Then he went on about the God relatedness to NRA on gun laws. The last thing the author did was to take advantage of his dead son to further the NRA agenda in the name of God.

READ what I explained to you! And don't just simply read it. Ayayayayaya!

Edited February 5, 2013 by betsy

Sleipnir · February 5, 2013

Society has to start addressing the question why so many mass killings /suicides are happening like as if it's become an

Media over-reporting and under-reporting the situation. Plus social media makes it so that news travel much faster around the world for what normally takes days.

February 5, 2013

The media didn't share this.

Try this guy instead:

kimmy · February 5, 2013

The media didn't share this.

Headline: "Bible Thumper Claims Prayer Would Have Stopped School Massacre; Recites Bad Poetry".

What exactly is newsworthy about it? Bible thumpers have been telling us that prayer in schools would have prevented Sandy Hook since the day it happened.

Hey, if prayer in schools would prevent school shootings, maybe prayer in churches would prevent child molestation!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNXxDLhGpO0

-k

Mighty AC · February 5, 2013

"If I could stop a person from raping a child I would. That's the difference between me and your god." - Tracie Harris.

Mass murder, rape, torture....that's just tough love I guess. When Christians parrot ludicrous lines like school shootings happen because prayer has been removed from school, what they're really saying is their jealous, vindictive god allowed it to happen. Don't let the little pubic-hair-like square stache fool you...the second coming already happened.

Moonlight Graham · February 5, 2013

I'm with Kimmy.

The_Squid · February 5, 2013

If a plethora of religious people and easy access to many guns prevented violence, the USA would be the safest country in the western world!

Edited February 5, 2013 by The_Squid

betsy · February 5, 2013

"If I could stop a person from raping a child I would. That's the difference between me and your god." - Tracie Harris.

But you aren't God or a god, are you? So never mind your comparison. Give that comparison again when you're the one being raped, and you know that you'll get strangled afterwards by your own panties, and the response to 911 will take about 11 minutes. Perhaps you'll be screaming, "OH GOD!"

....and maybe you'll cry out...."Give me a gun!"

Edited February 5, 2013 by betsy

betsy · February 5, 2013

FYI,

In Atlanta last year it took, on average, 11 minutes and 12 seconds from the time a high-priority 911 call was received until an Atlanta police officer showed up at the scene. The response times reported by the El Paso (Texas) Police Department were only one second quicker than Atlanta’s, with an average of 11 minutes and 11 seconds.

The Denver Police Department posted a response time of 11 minutes flat. According to the Journal Constitution story, police in Tucson, Ariz., responded, on average, in 10 minutes and 11 seconds.

Police in Kansas City, Mo., and Oklahoma City posted average response times of less than 10 minutes. In Nashville-Davidson County, police recorded average response times below 9 minutes.

http://apbweb.com/featured-articles/1188-response-times-city-to-city.html

If you and your family are facing a bunch of home invaders, how many minutes do you think will it take to butcher an entire family? With or without a gun?

You guys are just looking at the gun. That's a very limited perception. You should look at the one holding the gun....and his decided intent!

betsy · February 5, 2013

Why do some people have this intent? That is the hard question society has to address whether they like it or not.

Just think about the knifing in Vancover. Random. By someone with no record. It's reminiscent of a 80's horror movie - the demons, minus his comrades - terrorizing and murdering people trapped in a highrise.

Yes no one died in the Vancouver incident. How many would've died if that happened in a daycare?

The Dendermonde nursery attack was a stabbing attack on the Fabeltjesland daycare centre in the village of Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde in Dendermonde, Belgium, at 10:00 a.m. CET (9:00 a.m. UTC) on 23 January 2009.

In a retirement home? In a hospital?

There seems to be a pissing contest happening in the minds of some people - who can do the most heinous brutality! You don't want answers as to why a lot of these things are happening in America and around the world?

The problem is not the gun! The whole staged politicking about the gun distracts from the real problem we should all be looking at.

betsy · February 5, 2013

What exactly is newsworthy about it? -k

Do as I adviced Sleipnir. Read my response to him....and try to understand it.

Edited February 5, 2013 by betsy

betsy · February 5, 2013

Headline: "Bible Thumper Claims Prayer Would Have Stopped School Massacre; Recites Bad Poetry".

What exactly is newsworthy about it? Bible thumpers have been telling us that prayer in schools would have prevented Sandy Hook since the day it happened.

Hey, if prayer in schools would prevent school shootings, maybe prayer in churches would prevent child molestation!

-k

Instead of repeating the same old standard response and adhminem, do you have any answers as to why we see this escalating "epidemic" of monsters among us? Do you even think about that?

Edited February 5, 2013 by betsy

cybercoma · February 5, 2013

Do as I adviced Sleipnir. Read my response to him....and try to understand it.

Everyone understands your responses just fine. They're not even remotely complex nor articulate.

Mighty AC · February 5, 2013

But you aren't God or a god, are you? So never mind your comparison. Give that comparison again when you're the one being raped, and you know that you'll get strangled afterwards by your own panties, and the response to 911 will take about 11 minutes.

You believe in a god that has the power to prevent rape and school shootings, but chooses not to when he is jealous or upset. If I witnessed a rape and did not call the police or intervene I would be rightfully punished by the law. According to your own beliefs, your god does this every day and yet you refer to 'him' as 'loving'. That's twisted.

Canuckistani · February 5, 2013

You believe in a god that has the power to prevent rape and school shootings, but chooses not to when he is jealous or upset. If I witnessed a rape and did not call the police or intervene I would be rightfully punished by the law. According to your own beliefs, your god does this every day and yet you refer to 'him' as 'loving'. That's twisted.

No, no no, you don't understand. All evil is done by people with free will. When someone is saved, that's because the loving God intervened. He can't help it if the beings he created with free will choose to do evil. He can't intervene all the time, he's just too busy. Just a helpless bystander in that case.

segnosaur · February 5, 2013

Instead of repeating the same old standard response and adhminem, do you have any answers as to why we see this escalating "epidemic" of monsters among us? Do you even think about that?

There are a lot of reasons why we might be seeing more "monsters" among us...

- Could be simply that there is more news coverage (i.e. in the past, shootings might have been 'regional' issues.) More news channels, better/faster communication, etc. means that stuff becomes front and center

- There are actually more people overall in North America. More people=more opportunities for mass shootings

- Greater personal freedoms. Rightly or wrongly, society and the legal system have changed. It becomes more difficult for the police to incarcerate people without certain 'due cause'. While this is a good thing in that it prevents abuse by the police, in theory it could limit the ability for the cops to deal with real threats

- Improved technology makes it easier for people to do things like research bomb-making, communicate with like-minded individuals, etc. So, this increases the chance for tradgedy

Any of those could contribute to us seeing "more Monsters". And none of them involve a lack of "prayer" in anyone's lives.

Here are a couple of other things to consider:

- Timothy McVeigh was raised Catholic. In the year after bombings he expressed a "belief in god". Now, I don't believe his actions were motivated by religion; however, his religious beliefs didn't stop his actions either. (http://en.wikipedia....ligious_beliefs)

- Lanza (the one involved in the Sandy Hook school shootings) had attended a Catholic school (which I assume involves at least some prayer). His mother had also home-schooled him; I'm not sure how much religion he was exposed to in that time, but given the fact that she had sent him to a religious school in the first place, its possible that he had further exposure to religion there too. (http://en.wikipedia....ing#Perpetrator)

- Oh, and speaking of school shootings, did you ever hear of the Bath School disaster? It actually resulted in more deaths than Sandy Hook. And it happened way back in the 1920s. And the person who was responsible (Kehoe) had actually attended church. (http://en.wikipedia....ki/Andrew_Kehoe).

Edited February 5, 2013 by segnosaur

g_bambino · February 5, 2013

Everyone understands your responses just fine. They're not even remotely complex nor articulate.

It's still possible to decipher a rational message in a simple and inarticulate expression. The question is: is there a rational message in there at all?

It's amusing that betsy thinks there is in her posts; her modus operandi: post nonsense, refer challenges to that nonsense back to the nonsense.

Wayward Son · February 5, 2013

The media didn't share this.

The media should have covered exactly zero of Darrell Scott's speech. It was completely devoid of facts and statistics. It was completely devoid of rigorous thought about a complex subject. It was simply the opinion of someone who has put very little thought into the matter and simply says what he feels is correct based on his ideology. There is nothing wrong with that, but there is something wrong if that opinion is elevated beyond what it is: a raw ideology-driven opinion backed up by no facts, statistics or evidence. Furthermore several of the things in it were completely wrong. Such as his son praying in the school despite it being against the law. His son can pray however much he chooses. However, his son cannot be FORCED to pray in school by law. I certainly understand Mr. Scott's grief, and I applaud him speaking before the committee, but the media has no obligation to report nonsense just because it is said by a grief stricken father shortly after an extreme tragedy.

Having said all that...unfortunately, the media did report about Mr. Scott's speech. It got a lot of media attention - much more then would be expected for a speech before a house subcommittee. But that was 13 years ago, so it is ripe for unethical fundamentalists to ignore reality and "lie for jesus" by saying that the speech was ignored. They know that their audience is too uncritical to care if it is true or not.

Edited February 5, 2013 by Wayward Son

Wayward Son · February 5, 2013

Instead of repeating the same old standard response and adhminem, do you have any answers as to why we see this escalating "epidemic" of monsters among us? Do you even think about that?

Do you even think about the possibility that your belief (also stated in several other threads) that violence is on the rise and that there is an "escalating epidemic of monsters among us" might be completely wrong? Books like Steven Pinker's "The Better Angels of Our Nature" show that almost all forms of violence have been, and continue to fall dramatically - both recently and over the last several centuries. I have yet to hear any evidence-based counter arguments to the facts provided in that book.