John Hinckley, the man who is most famous for shooting and almost killing former President Ronald Reagan, is set to become a free man once again.
Hinckley learned this week that he will be granted “full freedom” on June 15th of this year following a ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Friedman on Wednesday. Friedman had previously announced his intention to free Hinckley in September of last year on the condition that the gunman continued his good behavior.
Hinckley initially was confined to a mental asylum for over 20 years following the assassination attempt. The jury found him “not guilty” for reasons of insanity.
Hinckley began being allowed to visit his parents in Virginia in 2000. In 2003 Friedman began letting Hinckley live within his community in Virginia for limited stretches under strict conditions. He has lived openly in the community with his mother since 2016 up until her death in 2021, although still with plenty of restrictions.
After June 15, Hinckley will no longer be required to grant officials access to his electronic devices, email and online accounts; be barred from traveling to places where he knows there will be someone protected by the Secret Service, and giving three days’ notice if he wants to travel more than 75 miles from his home.
The man who almost killed a president will also be allowed to legally own a gun and use alcohol and drugs again.
John Hinckley was previously barred from reaching out to the Reagan family or Jodie Foster, who he had claimed to have done the shooting for. Hinckley was 25 at the time and Foster was just a child.
The judge declared that since receiving treatment, Hinckley has shown “no symptoms of active mental illness, no violent behavior and no interest in weapons since 1983.”
The prosecutors for the government also gave up their fight against the unconditional release, noting that Hinckley “has recovered his sanity such that he does not present a danger to himself or others because of mental illness if unconditionally released.” They even agreed that the government found no evidence that Hinckley shouldn’t receive unconditional release.
John Hinckley already has big plans for his release. The musician has discussed his intentions to make a “John Hinckley Redemption Tour”, starting in Brooklyn, New York. He has promoted his music on YouTube for years.
The assassination attempt of Ronald Reagan had plenty of casualties. Reagan ended up with a bullet lodged near his heart. His press secretary James Brady was paralyzed in the shooting. Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy and Washington police officer Thomas Delahant also both took a bullet for the President.
John Hinckley has been under observation for decades and received world class mental health resources. Do you think it’s fair for him to receive unconditional release because of his previous illness or was his crime too heinous?
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Am I the only one here , that is amazed that song feaured here Probably Reflects John Hincleys Love & Devotion to a young prepuberty Jodie Foster ? He sings of placing a girl High On A Pedestal ? Isn't THAT how he came to shoot a sitting President ? Placing a young female , high on a pedestal , worshipping her above the Lord God Creator of All That Is Seen & Unseen ? I contend John is not completely cured & safe until he removes Jodie Foster from godlike status & decides to worship Creator God ! Until that day has come , he will be a danger to anyone in Political Office or anyone of notoriety like Jodie Foster ! I appreciate the great acting & director abilities of Jodie However maybe she should bring her lesbian lovers to presence of John & convince him , he cannot think of Jodie as a Lover High on A Pedestal , to be Worshipped by John ! Maybe then she will be able to live without the ghost of a freakish early age John Hinckley in her shadow. Nick , NavyBlueSmoke , LST-1195
How many other people, who have shot someone that wasn't a conservative...say a democrat...are there who have been released after being confined for a number of years, unconditionally?
Why wasn't he sentenced to life without parole? He shot several innocent men and nearly killed our President...and yet he is allowed to regain his freedoms....including the freedom to purchase a firearm?
Just another demonrat, corrupt judge, demonrat appointed.....I don't know how our nation is going to survive with all of this corruption at every level of our government....what a shame...what a disgrace!