[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1761-E1762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO ST. GABRIEL POSSENTI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 1996

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, Thomas Jefferson wrote, ``No free man shall 
ever be debarred the use of arms.'' I, along with many of my 
colleagues, wholeheartedly agree and have fought attempts to limit a 
law-abiding citizen's constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Law-
abiding citizens have the right to protect themselves, their families, 
and their property.
  As a strong supporter of the second amendment, I would like to take a 
moment to pay tribute to a courageous, but little known saint, St. 
Gabriel Possenti, who exemplifies the need for legitimate gun 
ownership. In 1859, the Catholic seminarian saved the village of Isola, 
Italy from 20 dangerous terrorists who were terrifying the citizens, 
burning down the village, and stealing personal possessions.
  As one of the terrorists was in the process of assaulting a young 
woman, Possenti, unarmed and alone, went to face the band of criminals. 
The terrorist who was about to rape the young woman, looked over and 
rested his gaze on Possenti and commented on him being all alone. 
Possenti quickly grabbed the terrorist's weapon from his holster and 
demanded the release of the young woman. Startled, the terrorist 
obliged. Possenti then disarmed a second terrorist.
  Upon hearing the commotion, the rest of the band came over to 
Possenti with the intent of overtaking the lone monk. It was at that 
fateful moment, a lizard ran across the road. When it

[[Page E1762]]

stopped midroad, Possenti, using one of the terrorist's revolvers, 
demonstrated his shooting prowess. He carefully aimed and killed the 
lizard with a single, clean shot. Possenti, then turned both revolvers 
on the terrorists and ordered them to douse the fires, return the 
property and leave the village. Not surprisingly, the bank of brigands 
was never heard from again.

  Possenti, who was thereafter referred to as the Savior of Isola, died 
in 1862. Pope Benedict XV canonized him in 1920. Possenti's prowess 
with the revolver protected life and property. His brave actions 
evidence the necessary right of legitimate self-defense. It is this 
past conduct of the 19th-century Italian saint that is celebrated and 
studied by the St. Gabriel Possenti Society, Inc., which seeks his 
designation as the Patron Saint of Handgunners. I would like to 
personally thank Mr. John Snyder of the St. Gabriel Possenti Society 
for his tireless dedication on behalf of the crusade for legitimate 
self-defense.
  I urge all my colleagues to remember this truly amazing story when 
they are called upon to make decisions regarding a citizen's second 
amendment right to keep and bear arms. Via the second amendment, 
citizens have the right to protect themselves, their families and their 
possessions from those who roam our streets and terrorize whole 
communities. As stewards of the public trust, we have the obligation to 
ensure the ability of law-abiding citizens to exercise this important 
right.

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