Judge Releases Reagan Shooter John Hinckley, Jr.
The assassination attempt led to changes for insanity defenses.
A judge has released John Hinckley, Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in an effort to impress actress Jodie Foster. He must live with his mother in Williamsburg, VA.
U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman said the 61-year-old “no longer poses a danger to himself or others.”
Last year, doctors at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital urged officials “to grant him a form of permanent leave.” From CBS News:
CBS News’ Paula Reid reports St. Elizabeth’s Hospital has a constitutional obligation to transition patients to outpatient care when they are ready. This case is not about the merits of whether an individual should be able to shoot four people, including a sitting U.S. President, and then be able to spend the last third of his life a free man. The hospital believes he is ready for this next step to independent living and is required by law to advocate for his release.
Judge Friedman gave him “partial leave” back in 2013, which allowed him to spend 17 days a month at his mother’s house. The judge also insisted Hinckley still cannot speak to any media:
“After thirty-four years as an impatient at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and in view of the foregoing findings, and the successful completion of over 80 … visits to Williamsburg over the last 10 years, the Court finds that Mr. Hinckley has received the maximum benefits possible in the in-patient setting,” Friedman wrote in a 103-page opinion. “The court finds by the preponderance of the evidence that Mr. Hinckley will not be a danger to himself or to others if released on full-time convalescent leave to Williamsburg under the conditions proposed.”
Hinckley opened fire on President Reagan on March 30, 1981. A bullet punctured a lung, but missed his heart. Another bullet left White House Press Secretary James Brady “paralyzed from the waist down.”
The police tackled Hinckley to the ground and promptly arrested him. Hinckley also wrote to Foster, explaining he did it for her:
“The reason I’m going ahead with this attempt now is because I cannot wait any longer to impress you,” he wrote. “This letter is being written only an hour before I leave for the Hilton Hotel. Jodie, I’m asking you to please look into your heart and at least give the chance, with this historical deed, to gain your love and respect.”
The jury found Hinckley “not guilty by reason of insanity.” This caused an uproar, which led the government “government and 38 states subsequently rewrote laws to raise the standard of proof required for the insanity defense, which is now rarely used and is even more rarely successful.”
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Comments
The first visitor he had was Hillary .
She was kind enough to tell him Trump was dating Jody Foster
Jody’s a lesbian. Tell him Hillary’s doing her
Giggle snort!
Now THAT is funny!
Good, because Squeaky needs a roommate.
Another sad love story. A crazy man trying to impress a lesbian. And Bill Clinton says he would never go that far.
That’s mean. And quite funny.
I wonder if he knows that Jodie Foster is a lesbian? Also, I expect he’ll be fine so long as he takes his medications…what if he doesn’t. Does he “no longer present a danger to himself or others” at that point? Will he be the new Karl Childers?
BTW, All charges against the last three officers in the Freddie Gray case have been dropped. Calling Andrew!!!
“…All charges against the last three officers in the Freddie Gray case have been dropped.”
The MSM will have to spin that event so hard an EF-5 tornado will look like the spinning water in a bathtub drain by comparison.
Did he promise not to shoot any more presidents?
Heard he’s taking a cue from Bill Clinton, and running around saying, “I did not shoot that president!”
Well, at least we can be certain that obtaining a gun won’t be a problem.
Hinckley solemnly swore not to shoot Reagan again.
This guy’s parents have been very persistently trying to get him released, and now they have succeeded. I wonder if they think they can control him?
They’ll probably hire a minder. As I recall, they are well-off and can afford it.
The “minder” will be Michael Reagan.
And does he get to live by himself when his mother dies? She’s 90 years old.
They gave him one of Trump’s socks to sniff.
he should be locked up just for foisting the brady group upon the US
You’d think there’d be a lot of posts angry about a person who tried to commit a presidential assassination. Wounded the icon of conservatism. Paralyzed a man until he died. Wounded 2 LEOs in the process. Instead,I’m reading jokes. Jodie Foster lesbian jokes.Jokes on Bill Clinton and Squeaky Frome.
Also no comment from the law and order candidate.
White privilege strikes again.
That’s ‘Fromme’. Squeaky Fromme.