Advice from a killer: It’s time that America takes ‘the glory out of guns’

[SecularMotion]

Normally, convicted serial killers are bad sources of advice. Their credibility is, let’s say, compromised. Their horrific crimes overshadow everything else.

Count David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam” killer from New York City, among those whose words of wisdom aren’t worth much. But in an interview last week with the New York Post, Berkowitz made several compelling statements about the recurrent incidences of gun violence this year in the United States.

“Society has to take the glory out of guns,” said Berkowitz, who is serving six consecutive 25 years-to-life sentences at a maximum-security facility in upstate New York for his crimes. “Young people have no business carrying a gun. I would love to speak bluntly to those gangbanging teens and wanna-bes and tell them prison is nothing like what you think. If you’re packing a gun, you’re making a big mistake, and you’ll regret it.”

Berkowitz was responding to the two most-recent headlines: the movie-theater shootings in Aurora, Colo., where 12 died and 58 were wounded during a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises, and the Sikh temple shootings outside Milwaukee, where six people died last Sunday.

http://annistonstar.com/bookmark/19769462-Advice-from-a-killer-It%E2%80%99s-time-that-America-takes-%E2%80%98the-glory-out-of-guns%E2%80%99

[Union Scribe]

1. Do you normally take advice from schizo serial killers? nt

[Confusious]

2. Out of the mouth of babes and all...

If a psycho can see the problem, then what does that say about some of us....

[DrDan]

3. who best speaks to the ills of smoking?

[holdencaufield]

8. My dog told me to take his advice

NT

[ileus]

11. Shit in the neighbors yard?

[holdencaufield]

14. Are you not familiar...

... with the lore behind "Son of Sam"?

He claims he was acting at the bidding of his neighbour's dog. Wacky fun.

[HockeyMom]

28. So the Scared Straight prison visits for teenagers

are pointless too? What could those serving for murder, rape, robbery, etc, have any advice to give teenagers? They didn't use guns to committ their crimes? How many would say GUNS ARE WONDERFUL?

It is no different than Berkowitz warning about guns. I lived in a area of Queens back then where he hit. I know his story very well.

BTW, my daughter as a teenager was taken to a jail as part of her required course in HS. I had to sign my permission for her to go. It left a lasting impression on her. I have no regrets letting her see what it is like.

[shadowrider]

30. Do the teenagers on Scared Straight have a vested interest in an unarmed populace?

Or would people actually convicted of crimes be more interested in that?

[HockeyMom]

36. Our K-12 schools?

Gun toting Kindergarten teachers? I don't think so. Even very gun lenient Florida, doesn't allow guns on school grounds.

[shadowrider]

42. That wasn't the question. n/t

[sylvi]

37. Scared Straight is less about prisoners imparting life lessons to the young

and more about doing exactly what the name implies - scaring the shit out of them with their intimidating demeanors.

[NewMoonTherian]

4. Author had it right with the first line. Then the whole article kind of takes a silly turn.

Serial killers are bad sources of advice, unless you personally happen to agree with something they say? Why even allow that monster's words that kind of publicity?

[Kolesar]

5. Maladroit gungeoneers are a bad source of advice...eom

[Reasonable_Argument]

6. I've been shooting for over 20 years

I've also been arguing and following this issue for close to 12. Please tell me how I'm inept at giving advice about firearms ownership or use?

[LAGC]

7. You better stop posting in here then.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. So are hit and run posters

who's primary interest appears to be sh*t stirring

[GreenStormCloud]

9. He is addressing ILLEGAL gun carriers, NOT CCWers.

"gangbanging teens" can't legally carry a gun.

It has been well established that LEGAL gun carriers are extremely law abiding. In 2011 there were 512,625 people who had CHLs. Out of those people there were exactly four (4) murder convictions. Out of the general population there were 553 convictions for murder in its various forms.

So very, very few CHL holders go bad, but some do.

I totally agree with him that "gangbanging teens" should not carry, nor should anyone for whom it is illegal.

[shadowrider]

12. Shhh. You're interrupting another anti-gun rant with facts. n/t

[ileus]

10. Murderers are always who I consult for advice.

[slackmaster]

13. "Gangbanging teens" is a racist dog-whistle

[Clames]

38. I think it is also the title of a few porn movies. n/t

[rrneck]

15. Culture war bullshit.

"There ought to be a law to keep people from feeling a certain way about something".

[Tuesday Afternoon]

16. If you’re packing a gun, you’re making a big mistake, and you’ll regret it.”

depends on the intent of why one is "packing a gun"

truest sentence:
Count David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam” killer from New York City, among those whose words of wisdom aren’t worth much.

damn right they aren't worth much.

I never considered this man to be wise and I don't now.

[Hoyt]

17. Hate to say it, but this mass murderer is correct -- we glamorize guns far too much in this country.

Just about every time someone is shot, abused or intimidated by a gun, gun cultists somewhere ought to be held responsible.

[rDigital]

19. A broken clock is right twice a day, but we don't use it to tell time. nt

[rl6214]

20. Of course you are going to idolize and take the advice of a mass murderer,

just likt you idolize and take the advice of Bloomberg and Brady, those republican anti-gun zealots.

[Hoyt]

23. And you are going to glamorize guns in hopes other "lepers" join your lonely cult. Do something for

society for a change.

[rl6214]

27. Yeah, all the millions of gun owners are "lepers" and belong to my "lonely cult"...

just like you. You do still have all your guns, right? Or did your status as an ex-robber force you to get rid of them?

[shadowrider]

31. He still has some from his dad I believe. At least that's what he's said. n/t

[Missycim]

43. Where was society when someone broke into my house?

they where no where to be found. So you can depend on "society" to protect you, I'll depend on myself, thank you.

[friendly_iconoclast]

22. Why should we take the word of criminals like yourself?

[Hoyt]

24. When it comes to guns, you wouldn't listen to god, Edison, Newton, Carver, Hawking, or anyone else

but those who can't leave home without a gun or two strapped to their bodies.

[friendly_iconoclast]

26. I must be hard of hearing then, as I do not own a gun.

[Missycim]

44. As a former robber such as yourself

they should allow you to an article like this one to scare kids straight.

[rDigital]

18. I'd say a serial killer has some kind of vested interest in unarmed victims. I don't know

call me crazy. My cat told me this.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10367881
The little snowball cat in the first picture.

[Hoyt]

25. Your cat wouldn't carry a gun either. But, a fine group of cats they are. Nice photos too.

[rDigital]

35. Thanks : )

You'd be surprised what those cats get into though.

[ileus]

29. Excellent looking kitties...

[shadowrider]

32. I like cats. For example, they make excellent door stops

[rDigital]

33. You'll be in purgatory forever with that attitude.

You have to be one with the MeowMeow to reach nirvana.

[holdencaufield]

41. A glamourous kitty ...

[trouble.smith]

39. Normally, convicted serial killers are bad sources of advice.

you said it, not me.

[gejohnston]

40. a better person to speak

would be the Texan that sold him the revolver. IIRC, Berkowitz went to Texas for some reason and bought it in a private sale. The ATF traced it to said Texan, and was convicted of making an interstate sale got five years.
Paying an FFL forty bucks for the NICS check and 4473 is worth it.

[Remmah2]

45. David Berkowitz, poster child for gun control?

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