'Son Of Sam' Killer David Berkowitz: Take The Glory Out Of Guns
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - Talk about irony.
In a recent interview, the "Son of Sam'' killer, David Berkowitz, said "society has to take the glory out of guns.''
Berkowitz, who is serving 25-years to life in prison for killing six people, spoke to the Daily News from the maximum security Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, N.Y.
Berkowitz was arrested in 1977 for killing six people during a 13-month shooting spree in The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.
He lamented the latest fatal shootings in Colorado, Wisconsin and on New York City streets, including that of a 4-year-old boy in the Bronx.
"Young people are losing direction and don't value life,'' said Berkowitz.
He added that gun control was for legislators to work out, and that his hope is for young people to realize "just how terrible this violence is.''
"When they use a gun --- they ruin their lives too,'' said Berkowitz.
In May 2007, a CBS 2 exclusive interview explored what led a reviled mad man to become a self-proclaimed man of God.
In that interview, Berkowitz, now 59, said he knows to not expect or even push for release, but admitted he does think about life on the outside.
"Of course there would be a lot of restrictions, and so forth. But I would actually be very, very involved with ministry," Berkowitz said.
He talked about his childhood, about life before the six random murders in 1976 and 1977.
"I grew up in a loving home, you know, with good parents, but I was a proverbial problem child and had a lot of trouble controlling my behavior," Berkowitz said.
His parents arranged for him to get some counseling. When asked about his "demonic influences" he said: "I would say it was a spiritual issue that affected me mentally and physically where gradually I just kind of fell apart and didn't see things correctly."
Prior to the murders, Berkowitz was reportedly involved in numerous arsons, cruelty to animals and shooting at an apartment superintendent.
What do you think about Berkowitz's comments on guns? Let us know below.
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