Berk 's kidnapping changed his life perspective . He had taken precaution to shield his son who was unaware of the intruder in their midst , and he kept his wife in the dark for her own protection after she had returned home and began preparing lunch . The kidnapping and robbery spurred Dr. Berk to gain a greater appreciation for his family and his work as a physician . The crime changed Berk 's mind about gun control laws , which he had first supported as a 19-year-old upon the assassination in June 1968 of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy . At the time , Berk did not know the difference between a shotgun and a rifle , an anomaly for most men in West Texas , but he soon purchased a gun for his family 's protection and learned how to use it
assassination
Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
Steven Berk