I never cease to be amazed at the world we live in... John Hinckley, Jr., the man who tried to assassinate President Reagan, shot James Brady, (whose wife is responsible for the Brady Bill for gun control) along with 2 secret service men, is going to be allowed unsupervised visits to his family. He has been in St. Elizabeth's Mental Hospital since 1982, when he was acquitted on the the grounds of insanity. He had stated that he committed the crime in an attempt to impress Jodie Foster because he was obsessed with her after seeing the movie "Taxi Driver" 15 times. U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman issued the order granting Hinckley's request for the visits, even though government attorneys argued that he is still dangerous and stated that he had been trying to fool his doctors. He is not allowed contact with his former girlfriend (lucky her)... or the media. The hospital said he hadn't had any "incidents" since 1995, when he became obsessed with a nurse there. Sheesh, that was a bunch of hogwash, because in April 2000, he won the right to unsupervised furloughs. The following month those rights were revoked when guards found in his room a smuggled book about Jodie Foster. He's not allowed to have any material about her. I dunno about yall, but if I were his former girlfriend or Jodie Foster, I'd be a wee bit nervous about the whole situation. This one is going to be interesting and I wonder how long he will be able to "behave." (If someone doesn't get him first.) One thing that eases my mind somewhat, is that you can bet the Secret Service will be watching his moves. Nancy Reagan made a statement about the judge's decision, and is very disappointed that he is being allowed to go out unsupervised. What an appropriate time to let him out... it's the holidays and he is a fruitcake. If you're interested in reading about the other nutty things he's done, go to:
John Hinckley Bio[/URL]

[ December 17, 2003, 07:09 PM: Message edited by: SavannahSilkie ]

The SS said they will be watching him, as they always have been.
I wouldn't trust him either. I do beleive he was mentally ill, but when these people get out they don't take their meds. With all the new meds out, he may be fine. But who says he's going to continue his medication w/o superivsion.
It happens alot, they let them out, they don't take their meds and they commit similair crimes.
Other murders can get out in 8 years sometimes, but mentally unbalanced? There's a danger I think for anyone he's around. Even his parents and other family members.
As hateful as it sounds, I think he should stay in the mental hospital forever.
I have read so many stories about people they say were cured and they were released only to commit even worse crimes in society.
I think the people involved can feel safe with day visits only and SS on patrol. I wouldn't go any further than that though.
Just my opinion.
Hugs,
Piggerita

Our judges never seem to know who the bad guys are, do they?,---and it seems to me they find pleasure in subjecting hard working stiffs like us over and over again to these sick people by releasing them back into our neighborhoods,over and over again.Maybe this man should stay at the judges house while he's out on unsupervised leave, coming home each night ,and personally reporting to the judge each time he returns. Maybe -EVERYBODY the judge releases that has a proven history of violence should have his own bed room next to the judges bed room,with a door between them that has no lock.. My God ,can you see that coming down? I'll tell you there'd be a lot more thoughtful inter-spection on the judges part,if he knew his own personial life was on the line every time he released some crazy assassin onto us unsuspecting

I agree with you Sherman, 100%! There would be a lot less "nuts" on the street, that's for sure.

wow this post really strikes a chord with me. i don't know if anyone heard or remembers a couple of years ago there were two police officers killed in queen anne's county, maryland. well, these two officers happened to be friends of mine. the man who shot them, Frank Zito, had a history of mental illness and had just been released by the state mental hospital for almost beating his mother to death. he had been in and out of mental facilities for most of his adult life (he was like 45 at the time he killed jason and mike). it never changed, he promised to take his meds, he would get home and things would be right back to the way that they were. the police got a call for loud music, they responded and when they got approval from the chief, they went in. jason was shot in the face with a shot gun. Zito then went out and shot mike in the back and while he was down he shot him execution style. Zito actually got sentanced to death but never endured it. he died in jail of cancer. i guess the lord works in mysterious ways? in another incident, about one year later, my boyfriend, who is also a police officer, stopped a guy who was riding a bicycle on a majoy hwy. the guy reached down and took a dumb bell out of his pant leg and beat him in the head repeatedly. had my boyfriend's partner not arrived when he did, he would have been killed. this individual also has had a history of mental problems and had just been evaluated by a physician and been totally cleared as "mentally stable". well apparently the judge had ideas of his own becuase they found him not criminally responsible. go figure.