David Berkowitz, the infamous serial killer known as the "Son of Sam," has entered the debate over weapons in the US, saying "society has to take the glory out of guns".

Berkowitz, 59, who terrified New York City in 1977 and is serving life in prison, called recent mass shootings at a cinema in Colorado and a Sikh temple in Wisconsin "senseless".

He told the New York Daily News from his jail cell: "Young people are losing direction and don't value life. Young people have no business carrying a gun.

"One day, I hope that guns will lose their glamour, that it would be seen as a social disapproval for those in gangs.

"You know, you get into this gang fight, all the weapons come out and everyone starts firing away without thinking, the bullets start flying. Next thing you know, for this one moment of unleashing your anger, you go to prison for many, many years."

Berkowitz, who at the time was a 24-year-old postal worker, confessed to killing six people and wounding seven others during his year-long shooting spree with a .44 calibre revolver.

He claimed to have been under demonic control and to have been ordered to kill by his neighbour's pet dog. He was given his moniker after signing letters "Son of Sam".

In prison he became a born-again Christian and has given up trying for parole.

He told the New York Daily News: "I'm looking beyond gun control. That's for the legislators to wrangle with. My hope is just that young people would understand just how terrible this violence is."----

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9467924/Son-of-Sam-serial-killer-says-society-has-to-take-the-glory-out-of-guns.html