Movement urges new patron saint of handguns

A group of admirers of St. Gabriel Possenti are campaigning the Vatican to name him as the patron saint of handgun owners. Possenti was known as a skilled gunman and is said to have once used his marksmanship to save a woman from being raped. The campaign is being led by John Snyder, a former worker for the National Rifle Association, who believes "making Possenti the patron of handgun owners would demonstrate that the Vatican was 'courageous enough to stick its neck out for the right of individuals to defend themselves against evil and tyranny,'" according to CNN. The Vatican, though it has a history of approving saints as patrons of various occupations and groups, expressed concern that "naming a patron for gun lobbyists was not opportune." In support of his cause, Snyder, head of the St. Gabriel Possenti Society, presented medals adorned with a handgun to other Possenti lobbyists at a hotel near St. Peter's Basilica. "I intend to keep bringing this to the Vatican's attention till they finally get the message," said Snyder. "Things in the Catholic church often take a very, very long time."

Santee, California

Student kills two, wounds 13 in San Diego school shooting

In the worst episode of school violence since the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School, 15-year-old Charles Andrew Williams fatally shot 14-year-old Brian Zuckor and 17-year-old Randy Gordon and wounded 13 others after opening fire at Santee High School Monday morning. Williams was apprehended within six minutes of the initial violence, according to CNN, and is currently under 24-hour surveillance in juvenile detention. In accordance with California law, he was charged as an adult for murder, assault and weapons possession for the shooting in the suburban San Diego high school. Williams was described as both an outsider and well-liked, according to The New York Times, and had spoken jokingly of bringing a gun to school as recently as last weekend. One student said that he and friends had even patted down Williams' bag and found no sign of a weapon. According to the statements released by the San Diego District Attorney's office, there has been no real answer to the question of why Williams committed this act, and there is no indication that a motive will ever come to light. President George W. Bush called the shooting "a disgraceful act of cowardice."

Amherst, Massachusetts

UMass student accused of stabbing two in Amherst bar

Accused of being the third UMass student in a month involved in a stabbing, 22-year-old William A. Leston insists he is not guilty. Leston was charged with stabbing a 33-year-old man in the chest and a 35-year-old man in the lower back at the Old Amherst Ale House early Monday morning. According to town police, in an article in the Union News, the "incident stemmed from an argument that occurred inside the bar and spilled out into the parking lot." The injuries appear not to be life-threatening, according to the police; however, they could not release the names or specific conditions of the victims. The Ale House usually attracts a mix of Hampshire College students and older people. Because of its distance from UMass it is less dominated by UMass students. The stabbing comes on the heels of two similar incidents involving UMass students. On Feb. 8, 19-year-old Harley Weymouth pleaded not guilty to striking Albert Morello in the head with brass knuckles and then stabbing him with a knife. On Feb. 17, two male UMass students were stabbed after a verbal exchange got physical on southwest campus.