As an Australian I find it rather difficult to come to terms with the part of the American Constitution that allows a person the right to bear arms. It becomes even more difficult when I watch our daily news bulletins and hear about people going on rampages shooting wildly.
This was the case a few years back when 2 11 year old boys set off the school's fire alarm and took pot shots at students as they left their school. A 15 year old boy in Washington State goes on a rampage in a school canteen after shooting his parents. Then there was Columbine High in Colorado.
But the most sickening event was when a SIX year old boy took a gun to school and shot an innocent little girl because he didn't like her. As a paernt that made me very angry
That should have been enough to make ALL Americans tell their lawmakers in Washington to wake up and do something. Unfortunately the silence was deafening. I know Australia is not completely innocent when it comes to gun control but the Government has taken the bull by the horns, so to speak, and has tried to pass tighter gun laws.
With our large ethnic population now in Australia gang wars are starting to become more common, but I am happy to say that I live in a part of this wonderful country where this is not yet happening and I hope it never does.
Maybe if you read the following statement from Darrell Scott, the father of a Columbine victim it may be the catylist to spur people into action and cry "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH".
A Columbine Parent's Message
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-
"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. 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!
Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our makeup, 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 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 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.
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 a humble acknowledgment 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 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!"
Mona Clouse
Assistant Dir. of Prospect Research
Wabash College-Kane House
P. O. Box 352
Crawfordsville, IN 47933
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