I do find it odd that the Fed says Hinckley is still a danger while the hospital wants him released without any serious supervision. This freak, btw, who attempted to murder Reagan just 69 days into his presidency, has already been enjoying extended vaycays out of the hospital, so this new effort by the hospital to release him is not surprising. But don’t worry, the attempted assassin of President Reagan has to wear a…GPS.
It’s amazing at all that he was found not guilty by reason of insanity when he had written a letter to Jodie Foster saying he expected to die in the attempt on Reagan, he laid-in-wait for the president, partially his himself and the gun, all indicating he knew what he was doing was wrong. You can be insane and still know right from wrong.
The government mental hospital where John Hinckley Jr. has spent most of the last 30 years since he shot and tried to kill President Ronald Reagan is asking a federal court to allow Hinckley’s eventual release to live with or near his aging mother in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The prosecution, in its own filing with the court on Friday, described Hinckley as “a man capable of great violence” and said his mental condition has not improved to the point of eliminating concerns “that this violence may be repeated.”
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman has scheduled up to a week of court hearings on the issue to start November 28, the Monday after Thanksgiving…
According to the government, the hospital has asked first for a series of extended visits to Williamsburg and then, “it be given the sole discretion to place Hinckley on convalescent leave in his mother’s hometown.”
His widowed mother, Jo Ann Hinckley, is now 85. She lives in a gated resort development not far from the James River in Williamsburg. Hinckley has been allowed several visits with her for up to a week and a half at a time over the last couple of years.
But he has been required to carry a GPS tracking device when away from the house and the Secret Service has kept watch on his movements. That surveillance would be loosened under the hospital’s proposal.
Under the hospital’s current proposal, Hinckley would be permitted eight longer visits to Williamsburg, the first two for 17 days each, the rest for 24 days each. After that, the prosecution filing said, the hospital wants to release Hinckley on leave “without any further review” by the court…
Doctors have told the court in previous hearings that Hinckley’s mental problems are in remission. Government lawyers disputed that in their latest filing, saying:
“There is recent evidence of deception toward his treating physicians as well as narcissism, both of which are significant risk factors for future violence.”
Related Links:
WaPo: Prosecutors say plan to let would-be Reagan assassin Hinckley live with mom is ‘ill conceived’
National Journal: Secret Service Audio: The Moment Reagan Was Shot
News segment of the assassination attempt along w some Hinckley background:
Ah yes, Saint Elizabeth’s…the Original Federal Government ‘Nut House’ in Washington, DC. Here’s an abstract(from that ‘online’ website) of some interesting information about it’s current status:
***After three years of searching for an occupant, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on March 20, 2007 that it would spend approximately US$ 4.1 billion(!) to move its headquarters and most of its Washington-based offices to a new 4,500,000-square-foot(!)facility on the site, beginning with the United States Coast Guard in 2010. DHS, whose operations are scattered around dozens of buildings in the Washington, D.C. area, hopes to consolidate at least 60(!) of its facilities at St. Elizabeths and to save $64 million per year in rental costs. DHS also hopes to improve employee morale and unity by having a central location from which to operate.
So spend 4.1 Billion to save 64 Million a year? AND improve employee morale? Great! /sarc
Maybe Fat Ass Janet can make an office in Hinckley’s old room?
posted 10/2 305pm Texans for Palin Time.
To amplify a point Tammy made: Our casual use of the term “insane” is vague, but the historical legal definition is precise: You can only be declared legally insane (and thus not be held legally responsible for your actions) if you did not understand that your actions were regarded by the greater society as being wrong. Therefore, if you had made efforts to conceal your intent, or to flee justice, it was self-evident that you were aware that your actions were regarded as being wrongful. This meant you were legally culpable. This was a standard that could be objectively enforced. As the twentieth century progressed, the legal system was penetrated by touchy-feely thinking, and concepts such as “diminished capacity” found legal standing. So people like Hinckley could now get off under squishy subjective concepts of insanity, rather than the traditional objective criteria.
Cool, Release John Hinckley Jr.
Now he is Competent to Stand Trial for the 1st Degree Murder of a Policeman, Attempted Assassination of President Ronald Reagan, and the wounding of 3 others.
Let’s Do It!
I wonder what Jodie Foster thinks of this development.
I am with you, doesn’t she have a say in this?
2 Nutjobs in one night on Tammy: Hinckley and Roseanne.