The Truth About Columbine

National Review Online ^ | April 20, 2009 | Robert Verbruggen

[gorilla_warrior]

Ten years ago today, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold stormed their high school with bombs and guns. They killed 15 people, including themselves, and injured 23 others, some severely. The nation thought the shooters’ parents were mostly to blame. Adults cast a suspicious eye on high-school-age males who were bullied, played violent video games, listened to Marilyn Manson, took an interest in the macabre, enjoyed shooting guns, or dressed like “Goths.”

Americans had to respond somehow, but at the time they could not respond to the facts: There was little information available, and much of what was available was false. The county police department suppressed and even destroyed key documents, the confusion of the situation spawned many myths, and people’s biases spawned many more.

But now that the police documents have become public and some investigators have been willing to speak to the press, we have a basically complete account of the day’s events and the surrounding circumstances. Journalist Dave Cullen, who’s been on the story since the beginning, pulls that account together in Columbine.

The book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand what happened on April 20, 1999. Cullen arranges the story almost like a novel, with various storylines advancing simultaneously. His prose is clear, simple, and direct. Through the facts he presents, his own analysis, and the analyses of others, Cullen provides good answers to the two central questions: What exactly happened that day? And what made Harris and Klebold do it?

[gorilla_warrior]

Modern society is increasingly vulnerable to psychopaths. A key survival skill for individuals and for communities is the ability to recognize and to avoid psychopaths - masters of deception; vicious, conscience-free, and irredeemable.

[gridlock]

Were they veterans, or something? < /s>

[BGHater]

‘Of the 76 bombs that Klebold and Harris threw during their 47-minute siege on Columbine, 30 exploded and 46 did not explode. In addition, they had planted 13 bombs in their cars (12 in Klebold’s and 1 in Harris’) that did not explode and 8 bombs at home. Plus, of course, the two propane bombs they planted in the cafeteria that did not explode.’

Still no clear explanation on how they carried so many bombs around, how large they were, in any comparison to size. ie hand grenade.

Pretty impressive arsenal for two clowns.

[hoosierham]

Like some politician who views baies as punishment and won’t release hi birth certificate or school papers?

[hoosierham]

baies=babies

[Loud Mime]

This travesty was a monument to cowardice.

Worst was the law enforcemnt yellowtails, who shrunk outside while children were being killed. The question was: What is more important, the lives of the unarmed children inside or the armed law enforcement officers outside?

They stayed outside.....waiting “for backup,” while children were murdered.

Cowards.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Yes Congress is full of them. Thank God the ACLU forced the closing of the asylums in the 80’s.

[nralife]

Columbine School Shootings Darrell Scott on Forgiveness

[Cicero]

It’s hard to avoid psychopaths when they succeed in getting elected to the presidency.

[SoldierDad]

They killed 15 people, including themselves, . . .

No, they killed 13 people - then decided to be the cowards they were by taking their own lives instead of taking legal responsibility for their actions by way of being tried in a court of law.

[Little Ray]

Just a little nit-picking thing, but I would never count murderers among their victims or even as “people.” The article SHOULD read “killed 13 people and themselves...”

[gimme1ibertee]

Still no clear explanation on how they carried so many bombs around

I have read in some early news reports that these guys did most of their bomb-building in their home garages,and that the mother of one actually saw the butt of a shotgun (or some other long gun) sticking out of a bag that he was carrying out of his bedroom.It's hard to know what's true or not.
One hard truth remains...these deranged criminals were allowed to carry out this massacre without being hindered by police,who appeared to be more than capable of taking them out and stopping them,or at least saving a few more lives.An armed teacher could have stopped what was happening as well.It's so sad.

[Redbob]

That’s not a “little” nit there, Ray...

[Blue State Insurgent]

Prozac kills.

[nralife]

Darrell Scott, father of 2 Columbine victims, speaks to Congress
May 27. 1999

At this very moment in a cemetery in Southern Denver - Chapel Hill Cemetery - they're erecting 13 crosses that I think are well known across the country, as a permanent memorial at the head of my daughter's grave. And my heart really longs to be there with my children, Bethany and her husband Don, Dana, Craig, and Mike, but it's with their blessing that I'm here today, and I appreciate that.

I realize that I'm a mere pawn in today's hearings, but I'm a willing pawn, because I dare to believe that I can make a difference. Every once in awhile, a pawn has been used to checkmate a king. I have no hidden agenda, and of course I have no political aspirations. I simply speak to you as a brokenhearted father, and I only ask that you allow your heart to hear me for the next few minutes.

Since the dawn of creation, there has been both good and evil in the hearts of men and women, and we all contain those seeds: We contain the seeds of kindness and we contain the seeds of violence. And the death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joyce 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 his heart. In the days that followed the Columbine trudged, 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'm not here to represent or to defend the NRA, because I don't believe they are responsible for my daughter's death, therefore I don't believe they need to be defended by me. If I believed that 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 which should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies. 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 four nights ago that expressed my feelings best, and it was written before I knew that I would be speaking here today, and I'd like to read that:

Men and women are three part beings: we have a body, and we have a soul, and we have a spirit ... And I believe we fail to recognize that third element, that really does need to be recognized by the legislative bodies of this country, that's been ignored for so long. Spiritual influences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries, and we know this is a historic fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We've refused to honor God, and in doing so we opened 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 don't need more restrictive laws. Erik and Dylan would not have been stopped by more gun laws or metal detectors. No amount of laws can stop someone who spends months of 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, and there is a spiritual awakening that is taking place that will not be squelched. We don't need more religion, we don't need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage, we do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people's basic needs are being ignored. We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgement that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God.

When my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he didn't hesitate to pray in school, and 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. Don't let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millenium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your conscience and denies your God-given right to communicate with Him.

And to those of you who would blame the NRA, I give to you a sincere challenge: dare to examine your own heart before you cast the first stone. My daughter's death will not be in vain: the young people of this country will not allow that to happen. And remember that even a pawn in a master's hand can accomplish much.

Thank you very much.

[thesearethetimes...]

Powerful.

Thank you.
Tatt

[nralife]

Nobles oblige ...

[GadareneDemoniac]

They dug in and formed a defensive line as if 10,000 screaming North Koreans were going to burst out of the building at any moment, machine guns blazing.

Sickening.

[yazoo]

Still no clear explanation on how they carried so many bombs around, how large they were, in any comparison to size. ie hand grenade.”

And where did they store them? I’d know if my sons were making and storing pipe bombs in my house. 76 bombs would be more than obvious.

[Lady Jag]

I’ve noticed with curiosity that some people can spot a psychopath pretty quickly whereas some never do.

If more were able, “Who’s Sane” wouldn’t have gotten in.