Would-be assassin-turned-folk singer John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to kill then-President Ronald Regan in 1981, was scheduled to perform at the Hotel Huxley in Naugatuck, Connecticut on March 30…
President was a Republican. They all felt threatened and got scared as they do. Like when that same Republican banned assault rifles after black people started carrying them openly.
I was just a kid at the time and I was more concerned with whether or not my Gizmo plushy would turn into a gremlin at night.
That said, the public was pretty pissed at this court’s ruling. Why? I was too young to really comprehend it, but it was definitely a thing that dominated the news.
Not an expert but from how I understand it that alone doesn’t qualify him to plead insanity. An insane person will act as if they are unaware of what they are doing is wrong.
Good. We imagine how our society would have less issues if we focused more on real rehabilitation and reintegration, and less on retribution and *heaping on more trauma.
It’s technically possible to do that after committing any crime, but under super specific circumstances and it’s a far cry from a “get out of jail free” card.
If you’re legitimately, actually insane when you commit a crime you’ll get sent to a mental hospital instead of prison. The catch is that the hospital will only release you if you’re mentally healthy. That can mean that a person who uses the insanity plea may spend more time in the hospital than they would have in prison.
Removed by mod
His charges were reduced because his lawyers were able to make the case that he was schizophrenic.
Pleading insanity became much harder in the US after that Hinckley’s case. The ruling was hotly debated.
He tried to kill the active President, not for political reasons, but to impress an actress who didn’t know he existed.
Mans bat shit. Why on earth would the diagnosis of crazy be challenged?
President was a Republican. They all felt threatened and got scared as they do. Like when that same Republican banned assault rifles after black people started carrying them openly.
I was just a kid at the time and I was more concerned with whether or not my Gizmo plushy would turn into a gremlin at night.
That said, the public was pretty pissed at this court’s ruling. Why? I was too young to really comprehend it, but it was definitely a thing that dominated the news.
Not an expert but from how I understand it that alone doesn’t qualify him to plead insanity. An insane person will act as if they are unaware of what they are doing is wrong.
Good. We imagine how our society would have less issues if we focused more on real rehabilitation and reintegration, and less on retribution and *heaping on more trauma.
Removed by mod
Secret Service needed to find out if he had any sponsors, accomplices, handlers, whatever.
It’s technically possible to do that after committing any crime, but under super specific circumstances and it’s a far cry from a “get out of jail free” card.
If you’re legitimately, actually insane when you commit a crime you’ll get sent to a mental hospital instead of prison. The catch is that the hospital will only release you if you’re mentally healthy. That can mean that a person who uses the insanity plea may spend more time in the hospital than they would have in prison.
This guy shot Reagan to make a celebrity he’s been secretly stalking impressed. You think this is the same man?