on July 11, 2022
The man who shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981 with a handgun that he purchased from a Texas pawnshop with a fake ID is speaking out publicly after being formally released from court supervision.
The New York Post reports that John Warnock Hinckley Jr. was released from court oversight last month. After his release, he was interviewed by Juju Chang for ABC’s “Nightline.”
During the interview, Hinckley expressed his opinions about guns in America.
“I certainly don’t think the mentally ill should have access to guns. I mean that’s kind of obvious,” Hinckley said.
“Background checks are good, and waiting periods are good,” he continued.
“I think there are too many guns in America,” Hinckley said.
Hinckley was 25 years old when he attempted to assassinate President Reagan outside of the Washington Hilton Hotel on March 30, 1981. He was reportedly driven by a desire to impress actress Jodie Foster, who was a teenage movie actress at the time.
Also injured during the attack was White House Press Secretary James Brady. Brady was seriously wounded and paralyzed as a result. Brady’s injuries led to the enactment of the Brady Law which was passed by Congress in 1993 and imposed a waiting period and increased background checks for gun purchasers.
Hinckley was charged with 13 crimes and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was committed to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, DC until 2016 when he was granted permission to live with his mother in Virginia under court supervision.
On June 15, Judge Paul L. Friedman released Hinckley from court oversight on the condition that he remain mentally stable.
is a U.S. Navy veteran, and a former prosecutor and defense attorney with over 20 years of experience in state and federal courts. He has handled everything from traffic tickets to first-degree murder cases and is a long-time supporter of Second Amendment rights and the rights of individuals to defend themselves, their families and their property.
