After 35 years in a mental institution, John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate President Reagan in 1981, will be freed.
Advertisement
The court said experts found Hinckley’s major depression and psychotic disorder “are in full and sustained remission and have been for more than 20 years” and that he is “clinically ready” to leave the hospital. The doctors at St. Elizabeth’s told the judge that Hinckley can resume an independent life and they are legally obligated to push for his release, according to CBS News.
Since the 1990s, Hinckley has been permitted gradually longer supervised home visits with his mother, lately lasting up to 17 days.
On March 30 1981, John Hinckley tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan.
Reagan, who recovered from the gunshot wound (a bullet had ricocheted off his limousine and lodged in a lung close to his heart), visited Twin Falls in 1986.
Hinckley said he shot Reagan to try to impress Hollywood actor Jodie Foster, an object of his obsession after repeated viewing the film, “Taxi Driver”.
His organization helped the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act become law in 1993, imposing federal background checks on gun purchases and a five-day waiting period.
In addition to Reagan, Hinckley’s attack wounded presidential press secretary James Brady, a policeman and a Secret Service agent. Washington police officer Thomas Delahanty was shot in the back of his neck while doing crowd control.
Federal Judge Paul Friedman wrote a 103 page opinion when he signed off on Hinckley’s release – and in the docs he says the government pushed for more restrictions and protective measures for President Reagan’s would-be killer.
Do U think John deserves to live freely after what he did?? Hinckley’s release, however, comes with a cost. Hinckley’s father died in 2008.
Hinckley’s longtime attorney, Barry Levine, said he and his client were gratified by the order, and that Hinckley has thrived under his new liberties. He says the shooting was “caused by mental illness, an illness from which he no longer suffers”. During his time in Williamsburg, he drives himself around town in a Toyota Avalon, going to movies and eating at fast-food restaurants. It also found that he plays guitar, paints and cares for feral cats.
But if he relapses, he would have to return to the mental hospital.
But Michael Reagan, the president’s conservative oldest son, had a different view, tweeting that his father “lived” the Lord’s Prayer by forgiving Hinckley.
McCarthy spent 22 years with the Secret Service. He died in 2014.
“It made me feel awkward and uncomfortable”, he said.
He will be followed occasionally by Secret Service members and is prohibited from reaching out to any victims and their families. He has also attended meetings for people living with mental illness, talks at a local art museum and concerts.
Advertisement
Associated Press writers Sarah Brumfield and Jessica Gresko in Washington, Ben Finley in Williamsburg, Virginia and Alanna Durkin Richer in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to his report.
