He hopes to help them figure out a way to turn their pain into purpose. In 1998, she performed a mime act to the song "Watch the Lamb" at the school talent show. Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers. Darrell Scott, father of Columbine High School shooting victim Rachel Scott, gave stirring testimony before a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. All rights reserved. Our newsletters bring you a closer look at the stories that affect you and the music that inspires you. User Clip: COLUMBINE STUDENT'S FATHER SPEECH BEFORE GUN CONTROL This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Darrell Scott | LIFE Outreach International "[9] Scott told Newsweek, "principals and teachers always need to be on the lookout for that kid who's isolated, or that's quiet, who always stays to himself, because that's typically the type of kid who ends up exploding. When Darrell looked back at his daughter's murder, he said that years before, God had prepared him. 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. And I had to break away.. One of those people was Darrell Scott, whose daughter Rachel Joy Scott was the first person killed at Columbine. Survivor stories: Craig Scott reflects on Columbine High School - TODAY By 11:35 a.m., they had taken 13 lives and wounded more than 20. [25] Scott's 16-year-old brother, Craig, was also at the school on the day of the massacre; he was in the library where most of the killings occurred; he survived unharmed, although two of his close friends were also murdered. In the aftermath, Rachel's father, Darrell Scott, founded Rachel's Challenge, a campaign aimed at ending bullying in schools. [94], The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation posthumously awarded Scott the 2001 National Kindness Award for Student of the Year. Privacy Policy. Its hard to imagine its already been 20 years, a visibly emotional Graves told NBC News. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. [47] A frequent feature of Rachel's martyr story is that she had a verbal exchange with Klebold and Harris about her religious beliefs before they killed her. Do your own reading and study, devour good books, talk about the things of God.. Legal Statement. A few hours later, two students, 17-year-old Dylan Klebold and 18-year-old Eric Harris, went on a shooting rampage. Its the generous support of our ministry partners that enables us to continue our eternity-shaping work. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. [13] She developed a passion for photography and poetry at an early age. And yet you fail to understand Every morning I wake up, I recite the names of the 13, because theyll always have a special place in my heart, he said. User Clip: Darrell Scott speech | C-SPAN.org What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. I never imagined we would be where were at right now, where there are so many mass shootings we cant keep up," the daughter of a slain teacher said. If she were somehow aware of what has happened with her story and her legacy, and to say, 'Nice job, little bro,' that would be pretty cool.". I think to really honor people and to say were really gonna resolve to do something about it, it has to be more than thoughts and prayers.. Most people, Darrell told me, are look-atters. Today, Scott's personal goal is to try to be a "big brother" or mentor to any student who has been through a school shooting. The days and months following the massacre were challenging for Scott and his family. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. It takes a good days drive to cover Colorado, but well help you do it in a few minutes. All rights reserved. And I asked my wife, What size shoes does, did, Daniel wear?, Told they were size 10, Mauser recalled saying, Thats my size., It suddenly occurred to me, wow, I could be wearing his shoes and walking in his shoes, he said. To pick up the torch my daughter dropped. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. All Rights Reserved. "I had no idea that would be something I would be doing a hundred, a thousand more times over the next 20 years.". I'm trying to share with them some of the things that I learned to get through it and to be a better person because of it". This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 12:00. Scott gave his first high school presentation about Rachel's message when he was 18 years old. The young people of this country will not allow that to happen! Hed read Norman Grubbs writings about the eye of faith that allows us to see through our worst circumstances to Gods purpose. I think that taking every single threat of any kind seriously is of utmost importance, and again to me it's cultivating an atmosphere, a climate and a culture where everyone's accepted. Because Darrell had learned to think this way, he could, despite his incredible pain, see through Rachels death to a sovereign, purposeful God. [88] The initial presentation is followed by a 45-minute, interactive training session involving both adult and student leaders. We should learn to become see-throughers. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. Here is an amazing story of hope from the horrific massacre at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, where many innocent lives were lost. We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God! "[71] Other sources report that Castaldo had survived by "playing dead". [24], According to friends, Scott often chose to wear clothes of a style reflecting her colorful personality, and occasionally wore eccentric hats, fedoras, or even pajamas to amuse her companions. This story is part of TODAY's series "Survivors: What Happens After the Headlines Fade." Kellman, Laurie. Words of Darrell Scott to Congress on the Columbine Shootings Theres a difference between forgiveness and pardon. Like many of us, I vividly remember the shock as the events unfolded. She was also an active member of church youth groups; at the Orchard Road Christian Center, she attended a youth group named "Breakthrough", where she displayed a passionate interest in both evangelism and discipleship. And from that, that's the opposite of that anger and hatred. "[52] Her friends from the Orchard Road Christian Church Youth Group also sang a song at the service, composed in her honor, entitled "Why Did You Have to Leave? He saw his friends Isaiah Shoels and Matthew Kechter get fatally shot. Another parent who lost a child to a school-related shooting, Byrl Phillips-Taylor, testified after Darrell Scott and offered the opposite opinion: a lack of controls on the sale of assault weapons, Ms. Phillips-Taylor maintained, had led to the shooting death of her son. Congressional Testimony of Darrell Scott, father of one of the 28 May 1999. Darrell Scott, the Columbine father, and Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse, 6, was killed in his first-grade classroom at Sandy Hook, both advocate teaching children social-emotional skills, like . Scott opened up to Couric about Rachel and the kind of warmhearted person she was. He'd read Norman Grubb's writings about the eye of faith that allows us to see through our worst circumstances to God's purpose. Rachel's Tears - Wikipedia And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. Darrells view of God already had a firm place in his heart when Rachel died. Rachel's parents divorced in 1988; they maintained a cordial relationship[10] and held joint custody of the children. TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING: ALL VICTIMS IDENTIFIED, SALVADOR RAMOS' GRANDMOTHER IN SERIOUS CONDITION. Listen now. On 27 May 1999 a month after the shocking massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, in which two students shot 12 other students and a teacher to death and wounded another 25 people the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on crime held hearings on "Pending Firearms Legislation and the Administration's Enforcement of Current Gun Laws.". (William Luther/The San Antonio Express-News via AP). Free shipping for many products! 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! It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! [15], When Scott was 11 in March 1993, she visited the church that her aunt and uncle attended in Shreveport, Louisiana, and chose to commit herself to Christianity. The Arizona Republic. Dawn Anna speaks about the anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School in suburban Denver on March 23, 2019. Columbine played out on TV, Beck said. A man whose daughter was killed in the Columbine High School shooting told President Donald Trump the country "must create a culture of connectedness" to help prevent future mass killings. We do not need more religion. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. Darrell Scott's Testimony on the Columbine Shooting He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new! (Revelation 21:35). [89] The participating school is provided with a curriculum and a training manual to ensure the continuity of the objectives of Rachel's Challenge, and the speaker typically holds a meeting later with parents and community leaders. We've done it with a simple story of a young girl who believed in compassion, Rachel Joy Scott. I don't even know what I have done. When suffering and evil come our way, theyll exert a force that either pushes us away from God or pulls us toward Him. They also need to create an atmosphere in the school where students share with someone if they ever hear or see a threat. The young people of our nation hold the key. "[107] Rachel's mother, on the 10th anniversary of her daughter's passing, stated: "Only through eternal eyes will she ever know how powerful her life and death became."[108]. "Parents Testify on Gun Curbs." Rachel's Challenge - Wikipedia He then addressed the solemn crowd with a speech that included references to Scott's pious character, kind nature and love of her fellow human, before stating: "You have graduated early from this life to a far better one, where there is no sorrow, violence or death. She was eating lunch with her friend, Richard Castaldo, on the lawn outside the school when she was killed. In a direct recognition of the significant, ongoing, national benefits achieved in schools, colleges, and universities through Rachel's Challenge, the National Education Association of New York awarded Darrell Scott and Rachel's Challenge the "Friend of Education Award" in 2006. Daniel Scott (Cal): 10'8" Fighting Illini dominate If not for the dazzling cornerback duo of Maryland's Deonte Banks and Jakorian Bennett, we'd be talking about Illinois as having the best pair of .