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CNN Live Sunday
Schiavo Family Pleas for Bill; 'Smart Guns' Prototypes Developed in N.J.
Aired March 20, 2005 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S MOTHER: They're trying to stop this bill. Please, gentlemen, don't use this bill as your own personal agenda.
I'm pleading with the moms and the dads to call their congressmen, and help them pass this bill for Terri. It's very, very important. Thank you.
Also, please don't use my daughter's suffering for your own personal agenda. Thank you.
RUDI BAKHTIAR, CNN ANCHOR: We have been listening to the mother of Terri Schiavo speaking to reporters there about a new bill that supposedly is going to be passed later on today to save the life of Terri Schiavo.
Let's go now to Bob Franken. He's standing by live there.
Bob, what can you tell us?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what you saw now is evidence of the pressure, this is obviously a situation, great tragedy for the family, for all of the parties involved. But there's also an effort to use the tactics necessary to try and put political pressure now on the Congress to get this legislation passed.
What she was referring to is a couple members of the House of Representatives are not planning to give the consent necessary to allow this to go quickly through the House. That was the last word that we got.
They have a variety of objections to this legislation. What they have said, is that, look, don't do this. As you heard Mary Schindler say, don't allow this to become part of a personal or political agenda.
So this is an effort to put pressure on members of Congress.
Now, we also heard she is going to go inside the hospice in a little while to see her daughter. Of course, the parents and the family you just saw are the ones who are desperately seeking to have the nutrition tube reinstalled.
There is legislation in Congress which would force this issue if it is successfully passed into the federal courts. The premise is, is that a federal judge would have no choice really but to have the tube reinstalled until this whole matter could be resolved through the federal judiciary.
So that is what is going on now. This has been a very subdued operation since the beginning. And I use that term on purpose. There are any number of people involved in this who are quite adept at public perceptions.
You saw accompanying Mary Schindler some Franciscan monks. They are spiritual advisers to her. They are from the monastery in St. Paul, Minnesota, and they have been very active with the family. And they are participants in an effort to make sure that this does not become something that backfires and then have the public sympathy go away.
So what we saw was a heartfelt plea; nobody is doubting that. But one that also has the intention of putting pressure on Congress.
BAKHTIAR: Our Bob Franken in Clearwater.
Thank you, Bob.
Let's go now to CNN's Elaine Quantico. She is also following the progress of that compromise bill aimed at saving Terri Schiavo's life. She's joining us from the White House.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Rudi.
Well, as you know, President Bush is planning to cut his trip to Crawford short, coming back to the White House earlier than expected. He will be here at the White House this afternoon.
He was supposed to have remained in Crawford over the Easter recess, save for a couple of trips.
But a White House spokesman says that the president does not want to waste any time, that he wants to be here in Washington to sign any legislation that comes out of Capitol Hill as quickly as possible.
In the president's view, according to his spokesman, Scott McClellan, this is about defending life.
Now, all along, the White House has been quite cautious about commenting on the maneuvers by Congress to get involved in the Terri Schiavo case. What the Bush administration has made crystal clear is that the president supports a "culture of life."
Now, apart from this specific and agonizing case, that phrase, "culture of life" does bring up a number of other issues in the minds of many who supported President Bush during his last re-election -- that is, social conservatives -- question centering on abortion and also technologies like embryonic stem cell research.
So many social conservatives really see this as a rallying cry of sorts. There has been an outpouring of calls to lawmakers, Republicans, to try and intervene. President Bush making clear that he will come here to Washington to sign that legislation. The White House saying that even just a few hours may be too long, so they want him here. He wants to be here in order to sign that bill if it should come out today or tomorrow -- Rudi?
BAKHTIAR: All right, Elaine Quijano at the White House, thank you.
Terri Schiavo's husband says he is outraged. Earlier this morning, Michael Schiavo told CNN he wants the government to stay out what he is calling a family matter. The courts have consistently sided with Michael Schiavo's efforts to allow his wife to die.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL SCHIAVO, TERRI SCHIAVO'S HUSBAND: My feelings are that I'm outraged. And I think that every American in this country should also be outraged that this government is trampling all over a personal, family matter that has been adjudicated in courts for seven years.
I think that the Congress has more important things to discuss. How about let's discuss laws on keeping pedophiles off the streets so they don't murder little girls? How about the homeless children, health care for people, medications for the elderly?
But, no, they're wasting Congress' time to talk about my wife, who has been adjudicated for seven years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: Just yesterday, Terri's mother begged President Bush and lawmakers to get involved and do what they can do have her feeding tube reinserted. Today that side of the family is grateful for Congress taking action.
Here's what Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler, told CNN a short while ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOBBY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S BROTHER: It amazes me that Michael portrays himself as a loving husband when he's abandoned Terri and he has warehoused her for the last 12 years.
He's provided no rehabilitation, no therapy, despite the fact that doctors are standing by, ready to help her, believe she can be helped, doesn't even need a feeding tube if she was just given rehabilitation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER" will bring you live coverage when the House convenes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern today. Be sure to stay tuned for that.
And also, the convicted sex offender suspected of kidnaping and killing a Florida girl appeared in court just a couple of hours ago.
John Evander Couey was booked into the Citrus County jail earlier today after his transfer from Georgia.
CNN's Sara Dorsey is keeping track of the latest developments, and she's with us now from Lecanto, Florida.
What can you tell us, Sara?
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rudi, I can tell you that today was not the first time John Couey has appeared in front of a judge in his life. According to documents obtained by CNN, he has been arrested 25 times in 27 years for a variety of different charges. And that is only taking account the times he was arrested in Florida.
Today, he arrived in court, shackled and handcuffed, to appear in front of Circuit Court Judge Steven Spivey, to face charges of failure to comply with sex offender reporting and violation of probation.
Couey remained quiet, except when the judge asked him a few questions and he looked down nearly the entire time that this procedure went on.
John Couey was taken into custody in Augusta, Georgia, Thursday. After he allegedly confessed to kidnapping and killing Jessica, authorities began that process of extraditing him back here to Florida.
The trip took eight hours to get him back. And Couey arrived back at the Citrus County Detention Center, where we are today, around 2:00 this morning. And we are told that entire trip went off without incident.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RONDA HEMMINGER EVAN, CITRUS COUNTY PIO: A decision was made that we would transport Mr. Couey through the nighttime hours into the early morning hours. We felt that that was the best way to bring him back as soon as possible and as safely as possible.
That transport was conducted by two of our deputies. We did use an unmarked vehicle and the transport went without incident.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: And Couey has not been charged with anything regarding the Jessica Lunsford case. The sheriff says the charges are forthcoming.
However, they are continuing to build their case. They will have to meet with the D.A., and it is then that we will determine the exact time line when we expect charges to be filed.
So just nothing in yet, Rudi, that is concrete, but we expect to be hearing about that in the days to come.
BAKHTIAR: Sara, what awaits Couey in this following week coming up?
DORSEY: I'm sorry, Rudi, I couldn't hear your question.
BAKHTIAR: I was wondering what awaits Couey in this week coming up.
DORSEY: Well, he will remain here at the detention center. His two charges, one of them, comes without bail. So he will not be able to bond out. He'll be remaining here while the sheriff builds his case and while he and the D.A. confer, and we will see what charges they come up with against Mr. Couey.
BAKHTIAR: All right, thank you very much.
Sara Dorsey in Florida.
Jessica Lunsford's father will talk about this tragedy now facing his family on "LARRY KING LIVE" tomorrow night. It starts at 9 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
Holy week services began without the pope. But he made a last- minute appearance at his window, waving to cheering crowds. Alessio Vinci has more coming up right after at break.
Also, a weapon with a brain. We're going to show you a gun that is safer and smarter.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BAKHTIAR: Checking some other stories that are making headlines around the world: Jordan has imposed a 15-year prison sentence on terror suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for a plot to attack the country's embassy in Iraq. It's second time Zarqawi has been sentenced in absentia in Jordan.
Earlier, he was sentenced to death for the killing of an American diplomat in Amman.
In Iraq, more bloodshed today as insurgents keep up their attacks. A suicide bomb in Mosul exploded inside the city's police headquarters, killing three people there. The chief of Mosul's anti- corruption department was among those killed.
And in the Far East, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on the final leg of her six-nation tour of Asia. She is now in China. Earlier today Rice and Chinese leaders held talks in Beijing. Topping the agenda were issues related to Taiwan and North Korea.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, hoping for a glimpse of Pope John Paul II. It was the first time in his papacy that the pontiff was unable to say Palm Sunday mass.
But as CNN's Alessio Vinci reports, the pope did not disappoint the crowds.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Unable to attend the Palm Sunday mass in St. Peter's Square, but nevertheless a pope who managed to draw a large crowd in St. Peter's Square as tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered on this Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem more than 2000 years ago.
A top Vatican official, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, who is the pope's vicar for Rome, celebrated the mass on the pope's behalf. He told a special prayer for the pope, calling him our beloved father, urging him to continue in his ministry until the end of his life.
Again, the Vatican making a reference of the fact the pope has no intentions whatsoever to resign, to step down.
The pope watched the proceedings in St. Peter's Square from his apostolic palace on the third floor, right inside of St. Peter's Square.
And then at the end of the mass, he appeared briefly at the window of the palace. It was a brief appearance, about a minute or so, during which time the pope did not speak but, nevertheless, blessed the crowd, which then broke into a lengthy applause. The pope then at one point banged his fist on his lectern, frustrated perhaps that he could not be with the crowd St. Peter's Square, a crowd visibly moved by the determination of this pope. Some pilgrims were even seen in tears.
Now, most events this coming holy week at the Vatican will be presided over by top Vatican officials, mainly cardinals. The pope has delegated to them this function, but nevertheless the pope is expected to make some appearances, at times in a video, via video link, at times in person, which for the time being appears to please faithful pilgrims and tourists alike.
I'm Alessio Vinci, CNN, reporting from Rome.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: Coming up, a weapon in the wrong hands is a dangerous thing. But what about a gun that can only be used by its owner? We're going to show you a smart gun, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BAKHTIAR: Welcome back, everyone.
It is called a smart gun, a gun that allows only the owner or preselected people to fire the weapon. Such a gun may have prevented the Atlanta courthouse murders.
But when will these weapons make it to the hands of law enforcement?
CNN's Deborah Feyerick has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This automatic, being fired by Officer Robert Ohalla (ph), is no ordinary gun. It's a smart gun, or at least a prototype of one.
When it's perfected, this weapon will allow only the officer to fire it. Not a criminal, and certainly not a child.
DONALD SEBASTIAN, N.J. INSTITUTE OF TECH.: It really makes the decision while you're pulling the trigger. There is no activation period here. While you grab the gun and pull the trigger, that's when we're making the identity.
FEYERICK: Donald Sebastian heads up research and development at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Five years ago state lawmakers asked him to find out if guns could be made safer and smarter.
MICHAEL RECCE, N.J. INSTITUTE OF TECH.: The first stage usually is something like this.
FEYERICK: Associate Professor Michael Recce was taped to find the answer. And though he didn't know a lot about guns, he did know a lot about human behavior.
RECCE: One of the things that I was struck by is how dynamic behavior, certain types of behavior, are so repeatable, like the way you grab a pen or a golf club.
FEYERICK: The professor discovered the same was true of guns.
RECCE: We used police officers and students. We had them grab a plastic gun, and we looked at where their hand went. And we saw that, repeatedly, their hands were always going to same place.
FEYERICK: So the professor and his team of graduate students placed tiny sensors in the hand grip.
RECCE: As the person grabs the gun, their fingers will touch some of these grips, some of these censors, and their pressure measurement will be measured over time.
FEYERICK: Measured and used as a key to unlock and activate the gun in a tenth of a second, even by a novice.
(on camera): I had more control over the gun.
RECCE: Exactly.
FEYERICK: Not that I'm used to holding a gun, but it feels the same each time that I fired it, it feels exactly the same.
(voice-over): Not everyone's a fan of the new technology. Chris Cox, lobbyist for the National Rifle Association.
CHRIS COX, NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION: This high tech is high risk. It's unsafe. It's unproven. And it's unreliable. And a less reliable gun is a dumber gun.
SEBASTIAN: The gun itself is not foolproof. The electronics won't be foolproof. But we can ensure that we've taken the technology to the level required that it actually is better than the current reliability of a mechanical gun.
FEYERICK: In the future, a single gun can be programmed so that many shooters can use it.
(on camera): You're telling me you can input the hand sensors of 100 people and the gun would be able to be activated by 100 people, as long as they're authorized users?
RECCE: Sure. How many numbers can you put in your cell phone?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It would actually have to be used by a working officer. He'd have to be able to shoot it left-handed, right- handed and from various positions, which we might encounter in an actual street scene. I want to make sure the gun never goes to the point that it fails for us.
FEYERICK: Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BAKHTIAR: What a great idea, a smart gun.
CNN's "RELIABLE SOURCES" is just ahead. Let's check in with Howard Kurtz to find out what's on today's program.
Hello, Howard.
KURTZ: Hello, Rudi. Thanks very much.
Coming up, legal battles, court trials, dominating the airwaves: Terri Schiavo, Robert Blake, Michael Jackson, Scott Peterson. The media's obsession with guilt or innocence, life and death. Have we become a tabloid nation preoccupied with these sensational legal dramas?
Plus, why aren't there more women on the op-ed pages? Is it the fault of men?
And Condi Rice vs. Tim Russert over 2008.
All next on "RELIABLE SOURCES."
BAKHTIAR: Sounds good, Howard. Thank you.
Spring has sprung, folks. But it looks like a cloudy day in San Francisco. You're looking at live pictures there. Is rain on the way? Our weather forecast straight ahead on CNN LIVE SUNDAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
BAKHTIAR: That does it for us here on "CNN LIVE SUNDAY."
Up next, "RELIABLE SOURCES" with Howard Kurtz. Then on "LATE EDITION," Wolf Blitzer is live from the Persian Gulf with the Army's top commander in Kuwait.
And at 2 Eastern, "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" profiles Ashley Smith, from hostage to hero.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 20, 2005 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S MOTHER: They're trying to stop this bill. Please, gentlemen, don't use this bill as your own personal agenda.
I'm pleading with the moms and the dads to call their congressmen, and help them pass this bill for Terri. It's very, very important. Thank you.
Also, please don't use my daughter's suffering for your own personal agenda. Thank you.
RUDI BAKHTIAR, CNN ANCHOR: We have been listening to the mother of Terri Schiavo speaking to reporters there about a new bill that supposedly is going to be passed later on today to save the life of Terri Schiavo.
Let's go now to Bob Franken. He's standing by live there.
Bob, what can you tell us?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what you saw now is evidence of the pressure, this is obviously a situation, great tragedy for the family, for all of the parties involved. But there's also an effort to use the tactics necessary to try and put political pressure now on the Congress to get this legislation passed.
What she was referring to is a couple members of the House of Representatives are not planning to give the consent necessary to allow this to go quickly through the House. That was the last word that we got.
They have a variety of objections to this legislation. What they have said, is that, look, don't do this. As you heard Mary Schindler say, don't allow this to become part of a personal or political agenda.
So this is an effort to put pressure on members of Congress.
Now, we also heard she is going to go inside the hospice in a little while to see her daughter. Of course, the parents and the family you just saw are the ones who are desperately seeking to have the nutrition tube reinstalled.
There is legislation in Congress which would force this issue if it is successfully passed into the federal courts. The premise is, is that a federal judge would have no choice really but to have the tube reinstalled until this whole matter could be resolved through the federal judiciary.
So that is what is going on now. This has been a very subdued operation since the beginning. And I use that term on purpose. There are any number of people involved in this who are quite adept at public perceptions.
You saw accompanying Mary Schindler some Franciscan monks. They are spiritual advisers to her. They are from the monastery in St. Paul, Minnesota, and they have been very active with the family. And they are participants in an effort to make sure that this does not become something that backfires and then have the public sympathy go away.
So what we saw was a heartfelt plea; nobody is doubting that. But one that also has the intention of putting pressure on Congress.
BAKHTIAR: Our Bob Franken in Clearwater.
Thank you, Bob.
Let's go now to CNN's Elaine Quantico. She is also following the progress of that compromise bill aimed at saving Terri Schiavo's life. She's joining us from the White House.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Rudi.
Well, as you know, President Bush is planning to cut his trip to Crawford short, coming back to the White House earlier than expected. He will be here at the White House this afternoon.
He was supposed to have remained in Crawford over the Easter recess, save for a couple of trips.
But a White House spokesman says that the president does not want to waste any time, that he wants to be here in Washington to sign any legislation that comes out of Capitol Hill as quickly as possible.
In the president's view, according to his spokesman, Scott McClellan, this is about defending life.
Now, all along, the White House has been quite cautious about commenting on the maneuvers by Congress to get involved in the Terri Schiavo case. What the Bush administration has made crystal clear is that the president supports a "culture of life."
Now, apart from this specific and agonizing case, that phrase, "culture of life" does bring up a number of other issues in the minds of many who supported President Bush during his last re-election -- that is, social conservatives -- question centering on abortion and also technologies like embryonic stem cell research.
So many social conservatives really see this as a rallying cry of sorts. There has been an outpouring of calls to lawmakers, Republicans, to try and intervene. President Bush making clear that he will come here to Washington to sign that legislation. The White House saying that even just a few hours may be too long, so they want him here. He wants to be here in order to sign that bill if it should come out today or tomorrow -- Rudi?
BAKHTIAR: All right, Elaine Quijano at the White House, thank you.
Terri Schiavo's husband says he is outraged. Earlier this morning, Michael Schiavo told CNN he wants the government to stay out what he is calling a family matter. The courts have consistently sided with Michael Schiavo's efforts to allow his wife to die.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL SCHIAVO, TERRI SCHIAVO'S HUSBAND: My feelings are that I'm outraged. And I think that every American in this country should also be outraged that this government is trampling all over a personal, family matter that has been adjudicated in courts for seven years.
I think that the Congress has more important things to discuss. How about let's discuss laws on keeping pedophiles off the streets so they don't murder little girls? How about the homeless children, health care for people, medications for the elderly?
But, no, they're wasting Congress' time to talk about my wife, who has been adjudicated for seven years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: Just yesterday, Terri's mother begged President Bush and lawmakers to get involved and do what they can do have her feeding tube reinserted. Today that side of the family is grateful for Congress taking action.
Here's what Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler, told CNN a short while ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOBBY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S BROTHER: It amazes me that Michael portrays himself as a loving husband when he's abandoned Terri and he has warehoused her for the last 12 years.
He's provided no rehabilitation, no therapy, despite the fact that doctors are standing by, ready to help her, believe she can be helped, doesn't even need a feeding tube if she was just given rehabilitation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER" will bring you live coverage when the House convenes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern today. Be sure to stay tuned for that.
And also, the convicted sex offender suspected of kidnaping and killing a Florida girl appeared in court just a couple of hours ago.
John Evander Couey was booked into the Citrus County jail earlier today after his transfer from Georgia.
CNN's Sara Dorsey is keeping track of the latest developments, and she's with us now from Lecanto, Florida.
What can you tell us, Sara?
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rudi, I can tell you that today was not the first time John Couey has appeared in front of a judge in his life. According to documents obtained by CNN, he has been arrested 25 times in 27 years for a variety of different charges. And that is only taking account the times he was arrested in Florida.
Today, he arrived in court, shackled and handcuffed, to appear in front of Circuit Court Judge Steven Spivey, to face charges of failure to comply with sex offender reporting and violation of probation.
Couey remained quiet, except when the judge asked him a few questions and he looked down nearly the entire time that this procedure went on.
John Couey was taken into custody in Augusta, Georgia, Thursday. After he allegedly confessed to kidnapping and killing Jessica, authorities began that process of extraditing him back here to Florida.
The trip took eight hours to get him back. And Couey arrived back at the Citrus County Detention Center, where we are today, around 2:00 this morning. And we are told that entire trip went off without incident.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RONDA HEMMINGER EVAN, CITRUS COUNTY PIO: A decision was made that we would transport Mr. Couey through the nighttime hours into the early morning hours. We felt that that was the best way to bring him back as soon as possible and as safely as possible.
That transport was conducted by two of our deputies. We did use an unmarked vehicle and the transport went without incident.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: And Couey has not been charged with anything regarding the Jessica Lunsford case. The sheriff says the charges are forthcoming.
However, they are continuing to build their case. They will have to meet with the D.A., and it is then that we will determine the exact time line when we expect charges to be filed.
So just nothing in yet, Rudi, that is concrete, but we expect to be hearing about that in the days to come.
BAKHTIAR: Sara, what awaits Couey in this following week coming up?
DORSEY: I'm sorry, Rudi, I couldn't hear your question.
BAKHTIAR: I was wondering what awaits Couey in this week coming up.
DORSEY: Well, he will remain here at the detention center. His two charges, one of them, comes without bail. So he will not be able to bond out. He'll be remaining here while the sheriff builds his case and while he and the D.A. confer, and we will see what charges they come up with against Mr. Couey.
BAKHTIAR: All right, thank you very much.
Sara Dorsey in Florida.
Jessica Lunsford's father will talk about this tragedy now facing his family on "LARRY KING LIVE" tomorrow night. It starts at 9 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
Holy week services began without the pope. But he made a last- minute appearance at his window, waving to cheering crowds. Alessio Vinci has more coming up right after at break.
Also, a weapon with a brain. We're going to show you a gun that is safer and smarter.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BAKHTIAR: Checking some other stories that are making headlines around the world: Jordan has imposed a 15-year prison sentence on terror suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for a plot to attack the country's embassy in Iraq. It's second time Zarqawi has been sentenced in absentia in Jordan.
Earlier, he was sentenced to death for the killing of an American diplomat in Amman.
In Iraq, more bloodshed today as insurgents keep up their attacks. A suicide bomb in Mosul exploded inside the city's police headquarters, killing three people there. The chief of Mosul's anti- corruption department was among those killed.
And in the Far East, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on the final leg of her six-nation tour of Asia. She is now in China. Earlier today Rice and Chinese leaders held talks in Beijing. Topping the agenda were issues related to Taiwan and North Korea.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, hoping for a glimpse of Pope John Paul II. It was the first time in his papacy that the pontiff was unable to say Palm Sunday mass.
But as CNN's Alessio Vinci reports, the pope did not disappoint the crowds.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Unable to attend the Palm Sunday mass in St. Peter's Square, but nevertheless a pope who managed to draw a large crowd in St. Peter's Square as tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered on this Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem more than 2000 years ago.
A top Vatican official, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, who is the pope's vicar for Rome, celebrated the mass on the pope's behalf. He told a special prayer for the pope, calling him our beloved father, urging him to continue in his ministry until the end of his life.
Again, the Vatican making a reference of the fact the pope has no intentions whatsoever to resign, to step down.
The pope watched the proceedings in St. Peter's Square from his apostolic palace on the third floor, right inside of St. Peter's Square.
And then at the end of the mass, he appeared briefly at the window of the palace. It was a brief appearance, about a minute or so, during which time the pope did not speak but, nevertheless, blessed the crowd, which then broke into a lengthy applause. The pope then at one point banged his fist on his lectern, frustrated perhaps that he could not be with the crowd St. Peter's Square, a crowd visibly moved by the determination of this pope. Some pilgrims were even seen in tears.
Now, most events this coming holy week at the Vatican will be presided over by top Vatican officials, mainly cardinals. The pope has delegated to them this function, but nevertheless the pope is expected to make some appearances, at times in a video, via video link, at times in person, which for the time being appears to please faithful pilgrims and tourists alike.
I'm Alessio Vinci, CNN, reporting from Rome.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: Coming up, a weapon in the wrong hands is a dangerous thing. But what about a gun that can only be used by its owner? We're going to show you a smart gun, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BAKHTIAR: Welcome back, everyone.
It is called a smart gun, a gun that allows only the owner or preselected people to fire the weapon. Such a gun may have prevented the Atlanta courthouse murders.
But when will these weapons make it to the hands of law enforcement?
CNN's Deborah Feyerick has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This automatic, being fired by Officer Robert Ohalla (ph), is no ordinary gun. It's a smart gun, or at least a prototype of one.
When it's perfected, this weapon will allow only the officer to fire it. Not a criminal, and certainly not a child.
DONALD SEBASTIAN, N.J. INSTITUTE OF TECH.: It really makes the decision while you're pulling the trigger. There is no activation period here. While you grab the gun and pull the trigger, that's when we're making the identity.
FEYERICK: Donald Sebastian heads up research and development at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Five years ago state lawmakers asked him to find out if guns could be made safer and smarter.
MICHAEL RECCE, N.J. INSTITUTE OF TECH.: The first stage usually is something like this.
FEYERICK: Associate Professor Michael Recce was taped to find the answer. And though he didn't know a lot about guns, he did know a lot about human behavior.
RECCE: One of the things that I was struck by is how dynamic behavior, certain types of behavior, are so repeatable, like the way you grab a pen or a golf club.
FEYERICK: The professor discovered the same was true of guns.
RECCE: We used police officers and students. We had them grab a plastic gun, and we looked at where their hand went. And we saw that, repeatedly, their hands were always going to same place.
FEYERICK: So the professor and his team of graduate students placed tiny sensors in the hand grip.
RECCE: As the person grabs the gun, their fingers will touch some of these grips, some of these censors, and their pressure measurement will be measured over time.
FEYERICK: Measured and used as a key to unlock and activate the gun in a tenth of a second, even by a novice.
(on camera): I had more control over the gun.
RECCE: Exactly.
FEYERICK: Not that I'm used to holding a gun, but it feels the same each time that I fired it, it feels exactly the same.
(voice-over): Not everyone's a fan of the new technology. Chris Cox, lobbyist for the National Rifle Association.
CHRIS COX, NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION: This high tech is high risk. It's unsafe. It's unproven. And it's unreliable. And a less reliable gun is a dumber gun.
SEBASTIAN: The gun itself is not foolproof. The electronics won't be foolproof. But we can ensure that we've taken the technology to the level required that it actually is better than the current reliability of a mechanical gun.
FEYERICK: In the future, a single gun can be programmed so that many shooters can use it.
(on camera): You're telling me you can input the hand sensors of 100 people and the gun would be able to be activated by 100 people, as long as they're authorized users?
RECCE: Sure. How many numbers can you put in your cell phone?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It would actually have to be used by a working officer. He'd have to be able to shoot it left-handed, right- handed and from various positions, which we might encounter in an actual street scene. I want to make sure the gun never goes to the point that it fails for us.
FEYERICK: Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BAKHTIAR: What a great idea, a smart gun.
CNN's "RELIABLE SOURCES" is just ahead. Let's check in with Howard Kurtz to find out what's on today's program.
Hello, Howard.
KURTZ: Hello, Rudi. Thanks very much.
Coming up, legal battles, court trials, dominating the airwaves: Terri Schiavo, Robert Blake, Michael Jackson, Scott Peterson. The media's obsession with guilt or innocence, life and death. Have we become a tabloid nation preoccupied with these sensational legal dramas?
Plus, why aren't there more women on the op-ed pages? Is it the fault of men?
And Condi Rice vs. Tim Russert over 2008.
All next on "RELIABLE SOURCES."
BAKHTIAR: Sounds good, Howard. Thank you.
Spring has sprung, folks. But it looks like a cloudy day in San Francisco. You're looking at live pictures there. Is rain on the way? Our weather forecast straight ahead on CNN LIVE SUNDAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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BAKHTIAR: That does it for us here on "CNN LIVE SUNDAY."
Up next, "RELIABLE SOURCES" with Howard Kurtz. Then on "LATE EDITION," Wolf Blitzer is live from the Persian Gulf with the Army's top commander in Kuwait.
And at 2 Eastern, "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" profiles Ashley Smith, from hostage to hero.
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