'Son of Sam' serial killer decries violence, 'regrets' past

[cali]

New York Daily News
David Berkowitz, the notorious "Son of Sam" serial killer who terrified New York City in 1977, tells the New York Daily News from his prison cell that he regrets his violent past and says society needs to take the "glory out of guns."

Berkowitz, who shot 13 people in cold blood, killing six, in a 13-month shooting spree, spoke to Daily News writer Tanyanika Samuels in an exclusive interview.

"It's all senseless," says Berkowitz, who is serving six 25-years-to-life sentences at the maximum security Sullivan County Correction facility in upstate new york.

Now 59, Berkowitz no longer has his "devilish smirk" that riveted readers after his arrest in 1977.

Full interview at the link:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/08/son-of-sam-serial-killer-decries-violence-regrets-past/1#.UCUYY6B9bfY

[morningfog]

1. Sounds like his time in prison has been good for him.

[Arkana]

2. Day late, dollar short, etc.

Still, the guy was clearly mentally ill and it's a good thing that his meds are working.

[kestrel91316]

4. THIS is what should happen with the criminally insane (well, except for

him being in a PRISON CELL). Meds, confinement, controlled environment, no chance to harm society, no chance for society to harm him (in the way of shooting or starving or forced homelessness).

I'm not sure what the point of a PRISON CELL is for someone who couldn't control his thoughts or actions because of BRAIN DISEASE.

Mental illness is NOT a character defect.

[geoh777]

5. THIS is what should happen with the criminally insane

"Mental illness is NOT a character defect."

I wonder what his victims have to say about that. Or, whether they even think anything about that.

I think the reason most people focus on the killer instead of the victims is that the killer is much more interesting, and no one is particularly interested in the victims, perhaps because they associate them with being "losers." They will read about the killer as he passes through the various phases of the "justice" system, arraignment, trial, etc, and all the hand-wringing over the death penalty. That is interesting, but reading about the victims' hospitalization and physical therapy, etc., or their funerals, is not very compelling to the average person.

Not a good report on the human being.

[kestrel91316]

6. Welcome to DU. You'll be right at home with the

"kill the mentally ill because they serve no useful purpose" crowd here.

[RZM]

9. Why is that?

Did the poster say or imply anything remotely like that?

And does this 'crowd' even exist?

[Raine]

11. Why are you dumping on the poster for something they did not say

or is it because this was their first post.

[yawnmaster]

10. Some diseases are dangerous. His is...

A prison cell works in his case.
"mental illness" is broad in scope.
A person with THIS mental illness is fine in a prison cell.
Projecting that statement to say that it is fine to kill the mentally ill would be quite a stretch.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Recent events are so horrific that even Berkowitz is appalled.

[Zax2me]

7. Newman probably returned his mail bag.

And peace set within him.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

8. I wish he'd be more honest about his conspirators

It's pretty much known, and he's admitted, he didn't act alone.

[-..__...]

12. He was following the instructions of his neighbors dog.

Why was the dog never taking into custody or questioned?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

13. Well, funny you should say that....

....let's just say people should have taken "Son of Sam" more literally.

[Tom Ripley]

14. The Carrs?