A Michigan man has been arrested and charged with illegally possessing guns after making death threats against Democratic politicians and members of the LGBTQ community on social media. Randall Berka II, a 30-year-old Sebewaing resident, was accused of posting various written threats on a YouTube channel, including a statement that “biden deserves to die” and that he was “more than willing tot kill whitmer,” a reference to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. According to the FBI, Berka also wrote, “I’ll kill anyone who tries to take my guns.”
Berka, who was involuntarily committed for mental health care in 2012 and declared incapacitated, is barred from possessing guns or ammunition. Despite this, his mother purchased four firearms for him in the past year, but now believes he “should be arrested and put in prison.” Berka appeared in court and was returned to jail to await a March 15 detention hearing.
The FBI credited Google for notifying federal authorities about the threats on YouTube, and U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison urged members of the community to report similar conduct to law enforcement. The case follows the February arrest of another Michigan man who was accused of threatening to kill state government officials who are Jewish. Jack Carpenter III, of Tipton, was indicted Thursday on a hate crime charge.
Berka’s case highlights the ongoing issue of mental illness and gun ownership in the United States. While the Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms, those who have been involuntarily committed for mental health care or declared incapacitated are prohibited from owning guns. However, there are loopholes in the system that allow individuals with mental illnesses to obtain firearms, such as purchasing them from private sellers at gun shows or through online marketplaces. The debate over gun control and mental health care is likely to continue in the coming years, as incidents like Berka’s and Carpenter’s raise concerns about public safety and the right to bear arms.