"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 my wonderful daughter,
Rachel Joy Scott,
and the deaths of that heroic teacher
and the other 11 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.

"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 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 what we need!

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 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 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 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. 

"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 without 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!

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 conscience and denies your
God-given right to communicate with Him.

I give to you a sincere challenge.

Dare to examine your own heart
before you cast the first stone!

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